Photo: Ministry

DHAKA, May 21, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh has sought UN-Habitat cooperation in housing policy development, technical assistance, skill development, research, use of digital technology in urban planning, development of climate-resilient infrastructure and capacity-building training programmes at a meeting held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

The meeting between the Bangladesh delegation and the executive director of UN-Habitat discussed in detail various aspects of Bangladesh's rapid urbanisation, affordable housing, slum development and tackling the impacts of climate change. 

The discussion also focused on affordable housing policy and guidelines and rehabilitation, implementation of spatial planning law, gender-sensitive public space design and inclusive urban planning, said a PID release today.

The Bangladesh delegation, led by National Housing Authority Chairman Mosammat Ferdousi Begum, also included Housing and Public Works Ministry Deputy Secretary Mohammad Abdul Awal and RAJUK Chief Town Planner Md Ashraful Islam.

On the other side, the UN-Habitat delegation, led by UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia
Rossbach included Regional Director Kazuko Ishigaki and Srinivasa Popuri.

UN-Habitat officials praised Bangladesh's urban development and climate-resilient initiatives and expressed interest in working together in the future on technical cooperation, knowledge sharing, research and implementation of pilot projects for sustainable and people-centred urban development.

Both sides expressed hope for further strengthening long-term cooperation to build sustainable urban development, social inclusion and climate-resilient urban systems.