& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Govt framework needed for affordable housing

Say speakers at discussion

Staff Correspondent
The government needs to create a framework for providing affordable housing facilities for low-income groups in Dhaka and other urban areas, said speakers at a discussion yesterday.
The programme, a part of the "1st International Conference on Urban and Regional Planning 2019", was arranged by Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) at the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Center.
Hasina Mushrofa, head of Brae Urban Development Programme, said the government has mandates for urban development including those in the
Sustainable Development Goals, in the Delta Plan and in its national flagship programme "My Village, My Town".
However, absence of institutional framework or a national urban policy creates challenges for implementing the mandates, she said while addressing the discussion on "Housing and Community Planning, Environmental Management, Sustainable Cities and Settlements".
Drafts of the policy were prepared several times in the past but the policy has not been enacted yet, she added.
Inter-ministerial coordination is also required to implement the mandates, she further said.Urban Planner SM Mehedi Ahsan said a separate institution is required which will work for sustainable housing for low-income groups including those living in slums.
It's not possible to solve slum dwellers' housing problem within the existing structure, he said.
Architect Iqbal Habib said ensuring affordable housing for low-income groups, especially female garment workers, is possible with effective measures.
Referring to a project for female RMG workers in Gazipur, he said it's possible to provide them housing with the amount of money they usually pay as rent for a year.
Female RMG workers live in miserable condition in the capital, he added.
Earlier, inaugurating the conference as chief guest, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Tajul Islam stressed the need for taking pilot projects for development in rural areas.
Success of such projects could be demonstrated in larger scale projects in future, he said.
BIP President Prof AKM Abul Kalam said 63 papers would be presented in eight different sessions at the two-day conference ending today.
Recommendations on different aspects of urban planning generated from the papers will be considered for future activities, he said.
Today, several parallel sessions will take place at Cirdap from morning.