In the capital Dhaka in 1995 green was 22 percent. In the last 28 years, it has come down to just 9 percent. According to urban planning criteria, an ideal city should have 25 percent green area according to Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP).
This information was given by the BIP in the planning dialogue titled 'Daka Heat: Responsibilities and Actions of Urban Planning and Development Management' held at the BIP Conference at Planners Tower at Banglamotor in the capital on Saturday (May 4) at 11 o'clock on the initiative of BIP.
The speakers said that due to the trend of constructing buildings keeping in mind the use of closed houses, glass houses and ACs, the temperature is increasing in the metropolis by disrupting the natural light and air circulation in the building design.
They said that the effect of temperature rise and heatstroke in Dhaka city is due to the destruction of the balance of the environment through land cover (green, water and gray or concrete cover), excessive increase in the amount of concrete, lack of concept of environment and climate in the design of buildings, glass-built buildings and the design of AC-dependent buildings. There are many reasons including unplanned constructions destroying green areas, lack of afforestation. Naturally enough green areas and water bodies existed in our Dhaka city decades ago as per urban planning standards. Construction of high-rise buildings next to narrow roads in urban areas, water bodies-reservoirs-green areas are being destroyed by public and private organizations. Apart from increasing the temperature of the city due to the air pollution caused by garbage disposal, brick kilns, vehicle and industrial fumes, the temperature in the city is increasing due to the very small particles caused by the air pollution.
Different types of harmful gases are increasing the heat in the air of Dhaka. Gas is produced from garbage dumps, brick kilns, vehicles and industrial fumes.
BIP General Secretary Planner Sheikh Muhammad Mehdi Ahsan moderated the press conference and presented the main report of the Institute's President Planner Professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan.
He said that as greenery has decreased in Dhaka city, in the last two decades the amount of excessive gray areas and concrete has increased, which is increasing the temperature in urban areas at a severe rate, increasing the effect of urban heat island.
According to the BIP study conducted in 2019, the area covered by concrete was 64.99 percent in 1999, increased to 77.18 percent in 2009, and reached 81.82 percent in 2019.
According to another research report published by BIP in 2023, the green area of the capital Dhaka has decreased to only 9 percent in the last 28 years; On the other hand, wetlands have come down to just 2.9 percent. However, according to urban planning criteria, an ideal city should have 25 percent green space and 10 to 15 percent water bodies.
Meanwhile, BIP's National and International Liaison Planner Abu Naim Sohag commented that the air quality of Dhaka city is very low compared to other countries in the world.
Board Member (Research and Publication) of BIP Planner Hosne Ara pointed out that the city's green area has decreased and the city's temperature has increased and said that urban heat mitigation and management strategies should be taken into consideration in city planning to control the heat and make Dhaka a heat tolerant city.
Apart from this, to recover from the negative effects of climate change, the recommendations of the National Adaptation Plan-2022 must be implemented through all institutions related to the planning and development of Dhaka city, and for this, the necessary technical manpower including planners must be increased in these institutions.