Home ›› 01 Nov 2022 ›› Front
Various socio-economic organisations, including citizens’ rights platforms, on Monday urged the government to take necessary steps soon to implement the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) to build a sustainable and inclusive Dhaka.
They made the call at a programme titled, “World Cities Day 2022: Want quick steps in implementing DAP to build sustainable and inclusive Dhaka” in front of the National Press Club in the capital.
The programme was organised by the Institute of Wellbeing Bangladesh and the Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, among others.
At the event, speakers laid emphasis on constructing footpaths and their proper maintenance, ensuring easy and safe zebra crossing, developing bicycle networks, removing hawkers from footpaths for easy movement, and stopping illegal parking on roads.
WBB Director Gaous Pearee said it will be possible to build a liveable Dhaka if initiatives are taken to make it sustainable and a city of justice. Bangladesh’s capital has ranked 166th among 173 cities on the Global Liveability Index 2022.
“The new DAP was gazetted in August this year. It is one of the solutions to build a liveable Dhaka as there are various proposals including the regulation of using private cars building pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, green networks, and parks for city dwellers. We want its implementation soon,” he added.
At the programme, the speakers mentioned that every day around 2,000 people are being added to the capital though it has already become an overcrowded city.
They said the city dwellers have been facing various problems, including traffic congestion, waterlogging, mosquito problem, noise, air, and water pollution. So, the capital has to be protected from environmental hazards to make it a livable city.
According to the World Population Review, Dhaka ranked the sixth most populous city in the world with a density of 23,234 people per square kilometre. The capital city has an area of about 300 square kilometres.
