RAJUK Needs to Be More Vigilant in High-Rise Building Construction

Bangladesh is a densely populated country, with 1,140 people living per square kilometer. Cities are even more densely populated, and this is especially true for the capital city, Dhaka. Due to a lack of space, buildings are only going upwards; however, high-rise construction poses many risks from various perspectives. On the one hand, high-rise buildings are being built very close to each other in the limited space available, and on the other hand, the roads in front of many of these tall buildings are narrow. This creates a constant risk of various types of accidents. Several major accidents have already occurred, including fires and building collapses, resulting in the loss of many lives.

Amidst this, a news report published on July 6 reveals that there is forgery in obtaining permits for high-rise buildings, and there are allegations of collusion against RAJUK itself. This news is undoubtedly very alarming. There is nothing more frightening than the situation where the protector becomes the predator.

In an effort to restore the livability of densely populated Dhaka after the approval of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP), many are attempting to obtain permits for increased building heights using old documents. There are allegations of involvement of a section of RAJUK’s officials and employees in such fraudulent activities. RAJUK's urban planning division has identified seven individuals involved in fraudulent activities. A general diary (GD) has been filed against these individuals at Motijheel Police Station by RAJUK’s urban planning and implementation division.

According to RAJUK sources, there is no specific count of how many individuals are attempting to construct buildings through permit forgery. However, such fraudulent activities are numerous. It is not possible to carry out such forgeries without the assistance of RAJUK’s officials and employees. In this situation, ordinary citizens have no option but to live with their lives at constant risk.

For various reasons, people are compelled to live in Dhaka city. As a result, there is a huge demand for housing in Dhaka. Many high-rise buildings are being constructed illegally in the city, without adhering to regulations. Some of these buildings do not even have RAJUK's approval, and many of the permits are fake. Taking advantage of this situation, a group of unscrupulous businessmen are recklessly constructing buildings and renting them out. There are also various business establishments including offices. The question is, who will be held accountable if an accident occurs?

RAJUK (Capital Development Authority) is a government institution under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. Ensuring housing security in the capital is RAJUK's responsibility. Therefore, we demand that the seven individuals involved in fraudulent activities be brought to justice soon. RAJUK should also be more vigilant to prevent any further fraud and negligence in the construction of high-rise buildings.