CUS Bulletin on Urbanization and Development Published since 1972 Number 73, December 2017 CUS BULLETIN on Urbanization and Development is Contents published half-yearly in June and December by the Centre for Notes from the Chairman 3 Urban Studies (CUS), Dhaka, House 59/B, Road 16 (New), Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh. Notes from the Executive Editor 4 Phone: (880-2) 9130965 Fax: (880-2) 9130965. E-mail: [email protected], web: www.cusdhaka.org. Price Tk. 20. Essay ISSN 2414-7311 Urban Planning Experience in Dhaka Nazrul Islam 5 Founder Editor and Chairman, CUS Nazrul Islam Short Communication Implementation of Paurashava Master Plan Salma A. Shafi 00 Executive Editor Salma A. Shafi Associate Editor CUS Activities Nurul Islam Nazem CUS Annual Lecture and the 46th Annual General Meeting Editorial Policy and Support Rosie Majid Ahsan Urban Development News 21 Khadem Ali Amirul Islam Chowdhury Conference and Seminar News 27 Bulbon Osman Manzurul Islam Book Review / Notes 38 Special Supplement (in Bangla) Extra 8 Pages Cover Art Wheel of Dhaka-05 mvs¯‹…wZK kni XvKv: b„Z¨Kjv I m½xZ Acrylic on Canvas, 2012 by Kuntal Barai (b.1987) †ivwR gwR` Avnmvb Computer Composer: Mostafizur Rahaman Centre for Urban Studies (CUS), Dhaka Printed at Momin Offset Press 25 Nilkhet, Babupura, Dhaka-1205 E-mail : [email protected] 2 CUS Bulletin on Urbanization and Development, Number 73, December 2017 CUS Executive Council, 2015-2019 (All positions are honorary) Chairman Professor Nazrul Islam, Urbanist Retired Professor, Department of Geography and Environment, The Centre for Urban Studies (CUS), Dhaka is a University of Dhaka, self-supporting independent non-profit research, training and And Former Chairman advocacy organization, registered under Society Registration University Grants Commission of Act, 1860, Government of Bangladesh. Established on May 13, Bangladesh 1972, CUS has evolved into a fully multi-disciplinary centre with Vice-Chairperson Professor Rosie Majid Ahsan, Ph.D specialists from the disciplines of aesthetics, administration, Retired anthropology, architecture, demography, economics, Department of Geography and Environment education, geography, history, information technology, University of Dhaka governance, housing, management, sociology, statistics and Professor Amirul Islam Chowdhury, Ph.D urban and regional planning. CUS is a member of the South Professor of Economic, United International University of Bangladesh Asian Network of Economic Research Institutes (SANEI), and Former Vice Chancellor, Associate Member of CITYNET, the Local Government Institute Jahangirnagar University of Training and Research (LOGOTRI), and an institutional Architect Khadem Ali member of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA). CUS is also Former President, IAB represented in the Bangladesh Urban Forum (BUF) since its Treasurer Architect-Planner Salma A. Shafi beginning in 2011. Centre for Urban Studies (CUS), Dhaka Secretary Professor Nurul Islam Nazem, Ph.D. The main objectives of the Centre are: Department of Geography and • to initiate, promote, sponsor, organize and disseminate Environment, University of Dhaka scientific research on various dimensions of problems and Joint Secretary Ms. Syeda Ishrat Najia issues pertaining to urbanization and development; Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Environment, Jagannath • to provide training in the field of urban and regional studies, University planning, development and management; and Members Professor Bulbon Osman • to provide consultancy services and advocacy pertaining to Retired Professor, Department of Art urban and regional planning and development. History, University of Dhaka Planner Shaukot Ali Khan The objectives of the Centre are pursued through a variety of Former Project Director, DMDP, RAJUK activities such as; research, training, seminars, conferences, Professor Mesbah-us- Saleheen dialogues, advocacy, consultancy, exhibitions, field studies, Retired Professor, Department of library, urban information and data service and publications. Geography & Environment, Jahangirnagar University CUS depends on contribution and donations from its members Architect -Planner Abdus Salam and patrons, training, research and consultancy overheads, and Retired Chief Architect, Government of publication sales proceeds for its funds. Bangladesh Professor Kazi Gulshan Nahar Madina The Centre is managed by a 19 member Executive Council Geographer and Cultural Personality elected on a four year term from amongst its General Body Professor Md. Ghulam Murtaza, Ph.D. members. All Executive Council members work on honorary Urban and Rural Planning Discipline basis. There is a regular full-time paid administrative and University of Khulna research staff for m management and research activities of the Professor AQM Mahbub, Ph.D Centre. Department of Geography and Environment University of Dhaka Address and Contacts: Planner Ashraf Ali Akhand House 59/B, Road 16 (New), Dhanmondi R/A Deputy Town Planner, DMDP Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh RAJUK Avenue Building Phone: (880-2) 9130965; Fax: (880-2) 9130965 Professor Farzana Islam, Ph.D E-mail: [email protected]; web: www.cusdhaka.org Vice Chancellor, Jahangirnagar University Sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan Former Chairman, Department of Sculpture Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University Sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan Former Chairman, Department of Sculpture Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University Planner Moushumi Zahur Assistant Professor Department of Mathematics & Natural Science, BRAC University Dr. Kanti Ananta Nuzhat Assistant Professor Department of Economics North South University, Dhaka CUS Bulletin on Urbanization and Development, Number 73, December 2017 3 Notes from the Chairman Professor Nazrul Islam The period (July- December 2017) covered by the the horrendous jams have been the frequent fatal present issue of CUS Bulletin has experienced a accidents caused by reckless driving of buses or even number of happy as well as sad incidences. The death motor cycles. A recent development in Dhaka is the of Mr. Annisul Huq, Mayor of Dhaka North City addition of `Uber’ service of shared cars and ‘Pathao’ Corporation was a great shock to the people of Dhaka. of motorcycles, offering a little relief to the middle class He died on 30 November 2017, in a London hospital. youth. He was elected mayor in May 2015, and soon won the • It is however not all bad news in the urban sector or heart of millions of people of Dhaka with his dynamic about Dhaka. Some theoretical discussions try to keep leadership and pro-active development initiatives. our morale high. ‘Making Dhaka a Great City’, a two Dhaka will definitely miss him. He was only 65 when he day International Seminar held in Dhaka in mid July, died. We at CUS deeply condole his departure. was such a positive move. Organized by the World • Annisul Huq’s demise was preceded by another Bank, the seminar advocated that we should ‘seize the tragic event or rather a long process of events, namely opportunity now to make Dhaka a great city’. The the exodus of the Rohingyas from the Rakhine State of Seminar brought in leaders and experts from Delhi and Myanmar, caused by genocidal atrocities on them by Beizing with inspiring examples of development. The the Maynmar authorities. Hundreds of thousands of economic potentials of Dhaka were the central theme the Rohingyas were forced to flee their homeland and of the seminar. One however needs to examine how take refuge in Bangladesh. The process began after the urban planners in Dhaka (specially those at Rajuk) 25 August and over 700,000 of them already got are perceiving the problems and prospects of the city. sheltered in Bangladesh, the flow remained A close look at Rajuk’s new Structure Plan unstoppable even in late December. The Bangladesh (2016-2035) should be a reference point. The Government extended unprecedented humanitarian economic potentials of Dhaka must be supported by its assistance to the refugees. The people of Bangladesh physical, environmental, socio-cultural and political have equally been sympathetic to them. The refugees realities. Otherwise ‘Making Dhaka Great’ will only have so far been accommodated in temporary shelters remain a slogan. in Tcknaf region of Cox’s Bazar district. Mid-term • The future of Dhaka is obviously related to some resettlements in offshore islands, such as at Bhashan mega infrastructural development projects currently Char, are being planned by the government. Indeed being implemented in the country. The under the whole issue is a huge humanitarian challenge not construction Padma Bridge is of course one such only for Bangladesh but also for the global community. project which when completed will have immense • Dhaka has experienced a very bad season of heavy impact on Dhaka and other regions of the country. The rains and consequent urban flooding and water Padma Bridge is fast becoming a reality. logging problem, this year. It is rather a regular annual • Dhaka maintanined its rich cultural image through feature. The authorities such as the City Corporations, the international classical Music Conference organized Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA), by Bengal Foundation and Channel i, the Folk Music Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkhya (Rajuk), Water Conference and many visual art exhibitions. Development Board, etc., keep on blaming one another for the problem, while the citizens suffer. One • At CUS we were pleased to have Professor Golam of course hears about new grand projects, but these Rahman, the doyen of urban planning