RAJUK Chairman Engineer Md Riazul Islam has announced that 3,382 under-construction buildings in Dhaka have been found in violation of approved designs, and the unauthorised portions will be demolished. The enforcement process is already underway.
Speaking at an urban dialogue titled "Dhaka: A City of Problems—What's the Solution?" organised by the Urban Development Journalists Forum at Dhaka Reporters Unity, the RAJUK chief shared the latest updates.
He said construction on these non-compliant buildings has been ordered to stop, and actions such as utility disconnection, filing of criminal cases, cancellation of design approvals, and sealing of buildings will be carried out in phases. Only the parts that break the rules will be removed.
"As long as I hold this position, the operation will continue. These structures must be brought into compliance, either through demolition or other legal measures. We're also conducting regular mobile court drives," he stated.
Emphasising the need for unified governance in Dhaka, he noted that without central decision-making authority over key services like water, electricity, gas, and urban planning, no development plan can be truly effective.
He added that while action on completed buildings will be taken later, strict measures are in place to prevent violations in ongoing constructions. RAJUK currently has no plans to allocate new plots. Instead, it will reclaim illegally occupied lands and use them to develop housing for lower- and middle-income residents.
The event was presided over by the forum's president, Matin Abdullah and moderated by senior member Khaled Saifullah. The event also saw the launch of the group's magazine "Dhakai", as well as the unveiling of a new book by Helimul Alam Biplob titled "Dhaka's Canals on Their Dying Breath: An In-Depth Look at How the Capital's Waterways Are Being Choked."
