BUET holds Planning Week 2024
Staff Reporter :
The URP Students Association of BUET (USAB) successfully organized Planning Week 2024 on the BUET campus from 23 to 25 November 2024. The event theme was Just Urban Transition.
Through the three-day event, the Department of Urban and Regional Planning students emphasized the importance of inclusive, equitable, and justice-driven urban planning for all.
A seminar was organized on 25 November 2024 as part of the event. The Chief Guest of the program was Ms. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, honorable Adviser for the Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and for Water Resources in the interim government of Bangladesh.
The session was chaired by the honorable Vice Chancellor of BUET, Professor Dr. ABM Badruzzaman.
Three undergraduate research presentations were the key highlights of the session. The first one was “Exploring the Reasons behind Land Cover Change of a Selected Protected Area of Bangladesh: A Study on Bhawal National Park”.
The other two includes: “The Impacts of Digital Technology on Different Aspects of the Life of Urban Poor Community in Dhaka” and “Examining Equity through Multiple Lenses in Dhaka’s Transport Sector: A Study on MRT Line-6 and Local Bus”. The young planners advocated for a sustainable urban future through these presentations and fostered meaningful dialogue among stakeholders.
During her speech, the Chief Guest expressed her concerns about the encroachment on forests and the negligence of responsible authorities. She stated: “We must make every effort to protect our water bodies in the expanding urban areas, especially in the Ashulia region. I urge RAJUK to take immediate actions.”
Dr. ABM Badruzzaman also shared his insights on the encroachment issues in Bhawal Forest, reminiscing about its past as a dense forest where people feared robberies. He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to prevent further encroachment and ensure sustainable development.
The event also featured a panel of distinguished discussants. Professor Dr. Md. Musleh Uddin Hasan moderated the panel discussion. While participating in the discussion, Major General Md. Siddiqur Rahman (Retd.), Chairman of RAJUK, highlighted plans to address housing challenges in Dhaka and its surrounding areas.
He stated, “More than fifty plans will be initiated to allocate housing for low-income communities.
RAJUK is committed to serving not only the upper class but also ensuring that general citizens receive services without hassle, bribes, or unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.”
Mahmud Ali, Director of UDD, praised the transition to Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) but lamented the current state of public bus services, noting, “Dhaka once had better bus services, but the system is now in a dire state.”
DMTCL Managing Director Mohammad Abdur Rauf discussed the progress of metro rail construction, stating, “Four metro lines are under construction, with one already operational.
To promote decentralized housing and commercial activities, Dhaka’s surrounding corridors will also be connected via metro rail. However, metro rail alone cannot solve our transportation issues. A holistic improvement of all public transport systems is essential for better efficiency.”
Professor Dr. Adil Mohammad Khan, President of BIP, criticized the lack of recognition for planners, stating, “Planners have faced discrimination since before independence. Despite proposing effective solutions, plans often get stalled in higher-ups.
Additionally, resorts and other developments are proceeding without proper land-use clearance, highlighting the need for accountability among administrative and political entities.”
The event concluded with remarks from Professor Dr. Asif-uz-Zaman Khan, Head, Department of Urban and Regional Planning (URP), BUET. He thanked the organizers, speakers, and attendees for their valuable contributions.
