Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana urges bold, green, transit-oriented development to make Dhaka livable and sustainable. Photo : PID

DHAKA, Nov 23, 2025 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today called for a fundamental shift in the development approach of Dhaka to make the capital more livable.

"Excessive concrete-based development has made the city unsafe and unmanageable. We talk about problems year after year but hesitate to solve them. Addressing them requires bold thinking. We must move outside the box, because the box has clearly failed us," she said.

The adviser made the remarks while addressing the 4th seminar of the "Project for Development of Policy and Guidelines for Transit-Oriented Development along Mass Transit Corridors," organized by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) with technical assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Highlighting resistance to meaningful reforms, Rizwana Hasan called for restructuring institutional setups to ensure empowered agencies, better coordination, and effective decision-making.

Pointing to Dhaka's fragile transport system, she said public transportation remains disorganized and environmentally harmful. 

"Every day, buses emitting black smoke are on the roads. We cannot make Dhaka livable without replacing these vehicles and redesigning our transport operations. A smart public transport system is not a luxury, it is a necessity," she added.

She stressed that transit-oriented development (TOD) could play a key role in smart transport strategies but must not compromise environmental integrity. "Open spaces and ecological buffers must not be sacrificed for metro stations or commercial structures. People in Dhaka desperately need breathing spaces," she said.

Reflecting on recurring urban disasters and slow progress in relocating chemical warehouses from Old Dhaka, she noted that entrenched interest groups often block reforms. 

She also urged community participation in greening initiatives, saying, "The entire city looks dusty. If communities are engaged, with government providing technical support, they will become the guardians of the greenery we create."

Rizwana Hasan expressed optimism about the TOD initiative for its focus on public spaces, parks, and greener neighborhoods while cautioning against unnecessary commercial development. "Dhaka already has enough markets. What it lacks is open, safe, accessible space," she said.

The seminar was chaired by RAJUK Chairman Engineer Md Riazul Islam. Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Md Nazrul Islam, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited Faruque Ahmed, and JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Mr Ichiguchi Tomohide attended as special guests.