Urban Planning: Profession,

Education and Research

Nurul Islam Nazem
Department of Geography and Environment
University of Dhaka
and
Honorary Secretary
Centre for Urban Studies
 Structure of Presentation
Institutional setup for urban planning in
Bangladesh
Planning practices in the country
Legal support for planning practices
Planning Education in the country
Urban planning as a profession
Research on Urban Planning
Future Direction
Institutional Structure for Urban
Planning
National Level
NEC
Planning Commission
Physical Planning Division
Urban Development Directorate
Local Government Engineering
Department
Institutional Structure for Urban
Planning
Local Level
Development authorities
(RAJUK, CDA, KDA, RTDA)
City Corporations
Municipalities
 Other Institutions
Special authorities
PWD
National Housing Authority
Department of architecture
Private Sector
(land development and subdivision,
Market, industrial estate, parks etc)
 Legal Support for Planning
1950 East Bengal Estate Acquisition and
Tenancy Act (section 83)
1952 East Bengal Construction Act
1953 Town Improvement Act
1977 Paurashava Ordinance (given
planning power); Changed in 2009.
1995 Environmental Pollution Control Act
A number of recent policies
 Urban Planning Practices in
Bangladesh (Dhaka)
1917 Master Plan for Dhaka by Sir Patrick
Geddes
1959 Master Plan for Dhaka (also by the
British planner)
1980 Strategy Plan for Dhaka by the
British planner (Not approved)
1997 DMDP Structure plan, Urban area
plan
2010 DMDP Detailed area Plan
CONNECTION BETWEEN
BANANI-GULSHAN LAKE
TO BEGUNBARI

RAMPURA SLUICE GATE CUM BRIDGE

 UDD and LGED
1978-82 National Physical planning project
Human settlements approach with social,
economic and physical goals (Bogra, Mymensingh,
Comilla, Jessore, Bariasal)
1982-85 (Narsingdi, Sylhet, Rajbari, Rangpur,
Jhenidah)
1982-90 Upazila Shahar planning 392 (40 by UDD) 50
District towns
2004-2011 Plans prepared for Barisal, Sylhet
and Coxs Bazaar and to teknaf
 LGED
2007Plans 23 District Towns and 223
Upazila Towns
UPPR 30 cities and towns
Governance for improved services
Infrastructure Development in the towns
Urban Sector Policy
 Planning Education
BUET: Urban and Regional planning Dept
KU: Urban and Rural Planning Discipline
JU: Urban and Regional Planning dept.
KUET
CHUET
Pabna University (coming soon)
Total 900-1000 planners in the country
Required at 4000
 Planning Profession
BIP (1973) resumed activities in 1974
Present Members about 800
Practicing planners about 300
Development Authorities 40
UDD,LGED and others 50
NGOs and Donor agencies 50
Teaching and Research 80
Private sector 80
 Role and Responsibilities of
Professional Planners
Proper education and training
High degree of motivation and
commitment
Ethics
Three Ps: Professional, politician and
Patriot.
 Planning Research
Universities (since 1955)
CUS (since 1972)
Urban Studies Programme (DU),GURI
BURF
BUF
Regional Planning
Other organizations (such as BIDS,
PPRC, CPD)
 A New Approach to Planning
Sustainable Urbanization
Balanced Urbanization
Ecological Urbanization
Clustered approach to city development
Rural Urban Integration
Strengthening economic base and resource
mobilization
New approach to urban governance and
Institutional Strengthening
 Strategies
Urbanization Policy
National Urban Planning Act
Decentralization
Proper urban management / governance
Focus should be given on:
Efficiency
Economy
Equity
Beauty
Environment
Culture
Democratic participation
 Ecological Urbanization
Managing urban environment
Making Balance between Environment
and economic development
Giving priority to health and education
Using appropriate technology in urban
physical and infrastructure
development
 Needs
Urban information system and data
observatory
Institutional support
Financial support
Networking
Good researchers
 Many
Thanks