Building Construction Rules 2006
Professional bodies concerned over delay in implementation
Six professional and civil society organisations have expressed grave concern at the government decision to delay the implementation of the Building Construction Rules, 2006 (BRC-2006) for Dhaka until December 31, 2006, says a press release.In a joint meeting recently, they urged the government to immediately implement the BRC-2006 for greater public interest. The organisations are the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), Centre for Urban Studies (CUS), Real Estate and Housing Agencies of Bangladesh (Rehab), Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa), and the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB). They said the BRC-2006 was framed through intensive three years of efforts by professional bodies, experts and civil society members in consultation with the government, after examination of building control tools in various countries, and with specific consideration of land supply, population density and resource constraints of Bangladesh. BRC-2006 replaces the archaic constraints of the previous rules, which encouraged its evasion and abuse. They alleged that a vested quarter in the Rajuk for self-interest is negatively portraying the BRC-2006 through disinformation to public as well as to the government with a view to preventing the implementation process. On July 1, the BRC-2006 officially became effective, but for no reason a new circular signed by a senior asst secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works extended the life of the old rules till December 31 this year. The professional and civic bodies said the BRC-2006 is a landmark step for rescuing Dhaka from the road to decay and it promises immense benefits to all landowners. They further said the government should take appropriate steps for wide publicity of the benefits of BRC-2006 and the professional bodies will extend all cooperation to this effort. On behalf of their respective organisations, Engr Emdadul Huq from IEB, Prof Gholam Mortaza, general secretary of BIP, Prof Nazrul Islam, chairman of CUS, Engr MA Awwal, president of Rehab, Shahidul Huq Khan, general secretary of Bapa and Khadem Ali, president of IAB were present. Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (Bela), whose representative could not be present at the meeting, also endorsed the demand.
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