‘Planned urbanization crucial for safe habitation’

Stressing the importance of ensuring safe habitat for all discussants at a multi-sectoral meeting here today unanimously viewed that planned urbanization can be the crucial means of safe habitation.

Besides, substantial and sustainable reduction of carbon emission has also become indispensable to ensure safe habitation.

The speakers made the observation while addressing the meeting on the occasion of observing the World Habitat Day-2023 today. This year’s theme: Resilient urban economies Cities as drivers of growth and recovery.”

Rajshahi Development Authority (RDA) and Commissioner Office of Rajshahi Division jointly organized the meeting at the conference hall of Divisional Commissioner.

Divisional Commissioner Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir addressed the meeting as chief guest, while RDA Chairman Dr Ziaul Haque was in the chair discussing and devising ways and means on how to attain the cherished goal.

Additional Commissioner Imtiaz Hossain, Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed, Superintendent of Police Shahjahan Mian, Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Arefin Jewel, Deputy Regional Director of Bangladesh Betar Munirul Hassan and former chairman of Rajshahi Education Board Prof Tanvirul Alam also spoke.

Additional Chief Engineer of Department of Public Works Misbah Uddin Ahmed and Assistant Prof Anutus Das from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology addressed the meeting as focal persons disseminating their expertise on the issue.

The discussants unequivocally called for promotion of renewable energies to lessen the gradually mounting pressure on using fossil fuel which is one of the main reasons behind the carbon emission.

They identically mentioned that cities are responsible for some 70 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions with transport, buildings, energy, and waste management accounting for the bulk of urban greenhouse gas emissions.

The future of the planet depends on national, regional and local governments and organizations, communities, academic institutions, the private sector and all relevant stakeholders working together to create sustainable, carbon-neutral, inclusive cities and towns.

In his remarks, Dr Humayun Kabir mentioned that the rural poor people with their recurrent disaster exposures are migrating into urban areas. These newcomers face a high employment crisis in the city and with very poor-quality housing and other well-being further tapping them into a deeper urban poverty cycle.

Climate change is becoming a threat to the urban environment and development and livelihood as well as uncertainty. Urban poverty is highly linked with rural disaster risks.

The urbanisation situation, particularly the housing in the city, is getting more acute with every passing year. (BSS)