Delay in implementation to serve vested interest

The BCR 2006 was gazetted in June but its implementation was mysteriously deferred until 31 December 2006 through an official letter issued by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

While the new rules remain inactive, thousands of landowners and developers are now queuing up at Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkhya (Rajuk) to submit their application for approval of building plans under the old rules, which hardly has any accountability.

According to an official source, Rajuk has received 2,500 applications for approval of buildings plans within the last 15 days.

The professionals of the construction sector fear thousands of new buildings, including many high-rise structures, which have been recently approved or put under the process of approval under the old rules, are set to add to the chaotic landscape of the city and create an environmental nightmare.

The General Secretary of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) Dr Mahbubur Rahman told The Daily Star 'a few identified quarters' are delaying the implementation of the new building rules. He said the quarters are playing the delay tactic out of ignorance and evil interest.

Rahman said a vested quarter in Rajuk, fearing its profit-making days would be over if this new rule is implemented, is spreading misleading information and creating confusion among landowners.

He said the government must stop approval of new building plans under the old rules immediately, "Or Rajuk can issue the approval of building plans with the condition that once completed the owners will have to produce an occupancy certificate.

In a joint statement recently, the experts from six top professional bodies urged the government to implement the new construction rules and save the city from becoming an urban nightmare. They said the intentional delay in implementing the new laws is unacceptable and against public interest.

The leaders said the BCR 2006 was framed through an intensive three-year effort by professional bodies in consultation with the government. The rules were formulated based on practical consideration of the land availability, population density and resource constraints in Bangladesh. The new rules dislodge the constraints of the highly inadequate previous rules and ensure accountability, bringing significant incentives and benefits to all the stakeholders.