Adviser stresses need for safe, eco-friendly buildings
Staff Reporter :
Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan today underscored the urgent need for all buildings in Bangladesh to be constructed with safety, environmental sustainability, and disaster resilience in mind, calling for a robust monitoring system during construction phases to prevent future tragedies.
Speaking at a seminar titled “Raising Public Awareness in Mitigating Risks of Building-Related Disasters (Earthquake and Fire),” jointly organized by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at a city hotel, the adviser highlighted how the absence of effective oversight leads to accidents such as fires and structural failures.
“An efficient and modern monitoring system should be developed to supervise and verify building quality during construction,” said Adilur, stressing the shared responsibility of building owners, engineers, architects, and contractors. “Awareness among all stakeholders is essential.”
He urged RAJUK to strictly fulfill its mandate in ensuring the construction of safe and compliant buildings, emphasizing that the knowledge-sharing platform provided by the seminar should lead to actionable and forward-looking plans.
RAJUK Chairman Eng Md Reazul Islam presided over the event, while Housing and Public Works Secretary Md Nazrul Islam attended as special guest.
In his remarks, Secretary Nazrul Islam cautioned that a safe urban environment would remain elusive unless stakeholders fully comply with building regulations.
“There is a culture of bypassing legal norms, especially among the influential. As a result, RAJUK officials often feel powerless in the face of non-compliance,” he said. He added that RAJUK and other agencies must take full responsibility in the event of building-related disasters.
Chairman Reazul Islam noted that RAJUK’s ongoing drives against unauthorized and non-design-compliant buildings are receiving positive feedback and cooperation from the public.
At the seminar, a JICA representative presented details of the “Improvement of Design and Construction Quality for Resilience of Private Buildings (DCQR)” project, aimed at strengthening building standards in Bangladesh.
Professor Dr Rakib Ahsan of BUET’s Civil Engineering Department delivered the keynote paper, focusing on disaster risk mitigation and structural resilience, while RAJUK Member (Development) Harun Or-Rashid gave the welcome address.