Lawmakers and planners called Thursday for bringing all the relevant master plans under a legal framework for the sake of their successful and effective implementation for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially related to urbanisation.
They also said master plans will only be effectively implemented if other relevant agencies at the upazila level work in a coordinated manner. The master plans prepared by engaging people will help them use their land properly as it will be a guideline for them. They also called for appointing planners at the upazila level to implement the plans.
Their observations came at a 'National Seminar on Preparation of Development Plan for Fourteen Upazilas Project' held in the city.
Urban Development Directorate (UDD) organised the dissemination seminar on the facts, findings, outputs and contributions of these 14 upazilas where the pilot plans will be implemented. Project director Shaheen Ahmed presented the keynote paper.
In the proposed master plans for 14 upazilas to be implemented in next 20 years, the planning area will be 4335.82 sq km, of which 218.82 sq km is urban (5.05 per cent). The number of existing beneficiaries is 3.86 million, of whom 0.50 million are from urban areas (13 per cent). The number of project beneficiaries has been projected at 5.8 million.
The master plans were developed during the period of June 2013 to June 2018 and the cost was Tk 205 million.
UDD director KZH Taufique said UDD prepared a comprehensive digital database of 10,000 sq km. Rajuk, KDA and CDA prepared a database of another 6,000 sq km.
"We want to collect digital information on at least 25 per cent area of the country by 2030," he said.
While speaking as the chief guest, MP of Bogura-1 Abdul Mannan said if these plans are brought under a legal framework, only then it will get some importance. Otherwise, no agency or ministry will give importance to such types of master plans.
'A way of successful implementation of the master plans for 14 upazilas should be devised," he said. More funds and manpower would be required for its replication across the country.
Narsingdi-3 MP Shirajul Islam Mollah said the plan is a unique document which shows how the 14 upzilas can turn into digital Bangladesh for the future generation. It is a timely plan which must be implemented.
"If we want to achieve SDGs, we must reduce the gap between rural and urban Bangladesh," he said.
Cox's Bazar-3 MP Shamim Sarwar Kamal said the people of Cox's Bazar have become aware about land use plans due to this master plan for Ramu upazila.
"If Cox's Bazar Development Authority (CDA) fails to prepare a master plan, I will request UDD to do that. The implementation of this master plan depends on the lawmakers," he said.
A number of participants at the seminar said the draft of the Urban and Regional Act, formulation of which started in 2006 was gathering dusts at the law ministry now. There is little or no hope that it would be passed in the parliament.
Additional secretary of the housing ministry Abdal Hossain said urban and regional master plans are very important for development. Bangladesh still lags behind in these areas.
As local government institutions are not strong here, the government agencies implement the projects, he said.
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