Speakers at a programme on Saturday suggested integrating urban development initiatives and all utility services under one umbrella organisation like city corporation or municipality for sustainability.
They also proposed developing townships and municipal areas with all urban amenities, including quality education, healthcare, market and space for recreation to ease pressure on big cities.
The recommendations came at the inaugural ceremony of the six-day 'International Conference on Urban and Regional Planning (ICURP) 2021' at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Agargaon area.
The event, scheduled for both physically and virtually, is hosted by the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) with support from the German Agency for International Cooperation or (GIZ).
LGRD and cooperatives minister Md Tajul Islam spoke as the chief guest, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor Atiqul Islam as the guest of honour and Local Government Division (LGD) senior secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed as the special guest at the event.
German embassy head of development cooperation Johannes Schneider and GIZ Bangladesh country director Dr Angelika Fleddermann also addressed the programme with BIP president Prof Dr Akter Mahmud in the chair.
BIP general secretary Prof Dr Adil Mohammed Khan gave an address of welcome.
Minister Mr Islam says more and more people are shifting to cities and towns to have a better lifestyle, putting extra pressure on the already distressed urban establishments.
"The government has taken a mega initiative called 'My Village My Town' to provide urban amenities at rural establishments," he adds.
But, according to Mr Islam, more inclusive planning is needed to bring the services outside cities.
Emphasising boosting income of municipalities, he says, "Only 38 out of 328 municipalities can bear the salaries of their employees with their own income which cannot continue like this."
Workforce at municipalities is needed, but it is not plausible to employ more without increasing income, uttered Mr Islam.
Seeking collaboration from city planners, he says, "The Detailed Area Plan (DAP) is in its final stage and possibly will be gazetted within December. With the DAP in hand, sustainability of cities should be in the forefront while taking development projects."
To win RAJUK's approval for a residential area, mayor Mr Atiq says, developers always keep space for playground and community space in the design. But ironically, no trace of playground is found once developed.
Referring to residential areas like Banasree, Aftabnagar, Mirpur Eastern Housing and Mohammadi Housing Society, he adds: "All these residential areas had playgrounds in original design, but the developers probably sold those spaces as land prices soared."
The city father also blamed the RAJUK (Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha) for not monitoring these compliant issues.
Stressing the need for automating services in a simplified way, he says, "The DNCC has developed 'Sobar Dhaka' app to ease the difficulty of getting services from the city corporation."
He said the DNCC would issue municipality bond soon to collect required funds for city development.
Meanwhile, Mr Ahmed says it is a matter of sorrow that municipalities and city corporations do need-based uplift work instead of long-term planning.
There are master plans for Dhaka and Chattogram, but no inclusive plans for municipalities at district and upazila levels, resulting in an influx of people into big cities, he said.
Prior approval is needed for residential or industrial building in corporation areas while buildings are being constructed all over the country indiscriminately without any planning or approval, laments Mr Ahmed. "RAJUK must come under the LGD authority for better coordination of city development initiatives and utilities like gas, electricity and water supply under city corporations for inclusive development."
In his closing remarks, Mr Mahmud suggested employing urban planners at all 495 upazilas, creating a cadre post through the Bangladesh Civil Service.
For a planned future for cities, he says, planning should start now and it is not possible without taking recommendations from architects and city planners.
International Society of City and Regional Planners president Pietro Elisei, Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies of the Netherlands Dr Alexander Jachnow, and ICURP convener Prof Dr AKM Abul Kalam also spoke.
