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The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 828
Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 828 Sun. September 24, 2006 Star City
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
Unplanned growth of the city may be tamed if the new
construction
rules are rigidly implemented. PHOTO: STAR
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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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thedailystar.netThe Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 828
