The Daily Star Web Edition Vol.

5 Num 828

Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW

Vol. 5 Num 828

Star City

Sun. September 24, 2006

Workshop on Building Construction Rules

2006

Professionals must be
accountable
Tawfique Ali

Role of professional engineers, planners and architects is

crucial in reaping maximum benefits from the new building
rules for Dhaka, speakers said yesterday at a workshop.
"The building rules hold the professional engineers,
architects and planners accountable for design and
compliance with rules in a construction of a building," said
Chief Engineer of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) M
Emdadul Islam in his presentation.
The workshop was organised by Engineers Institution,
Bangladesh (EIB) on the building construction rules of 2006
and role of the engineers.
"Under the new rules, any engineer involved in the process
of designing and construction of a building will remain
responsible for whatever role they play," Islam said. "They
will be responsible for proper compliance with the building
rules and approved design."
"It all rests at the hands of the professional engineers,
architects and planners to harvest maximum environmental
well-being," said architect QM Mahtab-uz-Zaman of Brac
University in his presentation.
Rajuk has to make sure a participatory and transparent
manner of enlisting professional engineers, architects and
planners who will certify compliance with the building rules
and approved design of a particular building construction,
he said.
Proper implementation of the new building rules for Dhaka

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Unplanned growth of the city may

be tamed if the new construction
rules are rigidly implemented.
PHOTO: STAR

The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 828

will bring enormous environmental benefit making the city

liveable with safe construction, said government officials,
engineers and builders at the workshop.
"Block architecture in the present construction practice
prevents air ventilation, sufficient light, and increases
temperature in the residential area," said Mahtab. "Floor
Area Ratio (FAR) in the new rules is not merely a number
game but implies far more than that."
"The FAR provides the opportunity of land consolidation of
several plots together for construction taking advantage of
both environment and gross floor area," he said.
Deputy Secretary of Disaster Management Bureau Abu
Sadeque said, "Considering the safety and environmental
aspects, the new building rules provide ample opportunity
for risk reduction if implemented properly. "
Any violation of the provisions of the new building rules is a
legally punishable offence as per the Building Construction
(Amendment) Act of 2006.
The Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) is now a
part and parcel of the amended building construction act
and is enforceable under the law.
While the Building Construction (Amendment) Act of 2006
provides for punishment for the professionals on charge of
deviation from the rules, institutions of architects, planners
and engineers also can cancel membership and registration
of their members, Islam said.
There is considerable in-built mechanism in the new
building rules to prevent malpractices and deviations in
building constructions.
There is still time, if the new rules are followed properly, to
turn Dhaka into a safe and liveable city, said the Rajuk
chief engineer.
As per the new rules, professional architects and engineers
will supervise and conduct any construction work and will
remain liable for any of their decisions. They will deal with
the authorities in obtaining approval for land development
and construction.
An aspiring builder has to seek plan approval in phases;
first for foundation development and then for structural
construction. Once the groundwork is completed up to
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The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 828

plinth level, the builder has to inform the Rajuk of it

seeking approval for construction.
According to architect Mahtab, the confined and sedentary
life in a city like today's Dhaka affects adversely particularly
children and elderly people.
The existing unplanned development pattern does not show
any regard to open space and pedestrian passage, he said.
"Dhaka city is already choked with unplanned urbanisation
with whatever remaining open space, wetland and parks
disappearing fast."
Urban water crisis and waterlogging are inevitable
outcomes of all-pervading concrete coverage of the ground,
Mahtab said.
Dr Md Mahbubbur Rahman, general secretary IEB, Public
Works Secretary Iqbal Uddin Chowdhury, Rajuk Chairman
AKM Harun and President of real Estate and Housing
Association of Bangladesh (Rehab) engineer Abdul Awal
also spoke at the workshop chaired by the IEB President
ANH Akhtar Hossain.

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