Introduction: RAJUK RAJUK (Raj (Rajdha dhani ni Unnay Unnayan an Kart Kartri ripak pakkh kha) a) is a stat statut utory ory body body entr entrus uste ted d with with the the responsibility of initiating and implementing urban development plans through planning. It is the regulatory authority expected to guard against illegal structural developments that would disrupt the environment and habitat of the sprawling metropolis. Its precursor was the Dhaka Improvement Trust (DIT) which is replaced in 1987. DIT was founded in 1956 under under the Town Town Impro Improvem vement ent Act 1953 1953 with with the specia speciall objecti objective ve of underta undertakin king g developm development ent progra programs ms for Dhaka and Naraya Narayangan nganjj and for some other other areas areas in the vicinity of the two towns. A 13 member board of trustees forms the apex of the DIT administrative structure with a chairman at the top. The development challenge posed by the rapid urbanization of Dhaka and its environs in the 1970s and `80s necessitated amendment to the administrative and legal structure of DIT. The outcome was the own Improvement (amendment) Act 1987 through which DIT was transformed into Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK).
Background of RAJUK: In 1947 1947,, when when Indi Indiaa was was part partit itio ione ned, d, Dhak Dhakaa beca became me the the seat seat of the the prov provin inci cial al government of East Pakistan. The population increased from 0.28 million in 1951 to arou around nd 1.2 1.2 mill millio ion n in 1971. 1971. As the the Capi Capita tall of Bang Bangla lades desh, h, whic which h emer emerge ged d as an independent country after the War of Liberation in 1971, Dhaka has now become one of the fasted growing cities in the world and its population is likely to exceed 10 million by this time. Although efforts have been made in the past to plan the growth of the City from a district town to one of the largest cities in the world, most have been unsuccessful. As a result, the living conditions have deteriorated very rapidly and the social as well as physical infrastructure are on the verge of collapse. Immediate actions are necessary to bring some discipline to the future growth of the city.
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Organizational Structure of RAJUK: RAJUK is now a public body managed by a board comprising a chairman and not more than five members. The chairman and the principle executive of RAJUK and the other members are government officials. All members of the board are full time officials with specific responsibilities within the board framework of the RAJUK set-up having five different divisions such as, development and engineering; estate and land; finance; budget and accounts; planning and architecture. The existing structure of the organization stands with the old version of Organog Organogram ram having having 728 offici officials als of which which 140 offici officials als under under Planni Planning ng Sectio Section n are shown the working strength of the Authority. At that time RAJUK comprised an area of 320 sq ml after then RAJUK has extended an area up to 590 sq ml under its jurisdiction, whereas the number of officials only increased up to 1081 of which Planning Section provided for total 253 officials according to the proposal of the new Organogram prepared and placed in 1987. 198 7. This Organogram has been approved by the Establishment and pending for clearance from the Finance. An order circulated by the Ministry of Establishment on the basis of the proposal for recruitments of 78 project officials within the RAJUK's main setup. The posts of 57 Project officials been approved by the Establishment for absorption in the present set up of RAJUK form 1st July 1996. In view of this problem another Organogram having the posts of 1232 officials have been proposed in October 1999 to the concern Ministry for approval. Of this Organogram, Planning Section of RAJUK concerns 318 officials of which 68 new officials are to be posted under Chief Architect. This Organogram have partially been implemented implemented through the appointment appointment of two Authorized Officers Officers with the existing existing two posts of Authorized Officer by an order issued in February 2001.
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Chairman
Member (Admin and Land)
Member (planning)
Member (Development)
Member (Finance)
Member (Estates)
Chief Engineer Director (estates)
Secretary
Director (Land) Director (Town Planning)
Director (Dev. Control)
Director (plan Preparatio n)
Director (Finance)
Director (audit)
Figure: Organizational Structure (Organo-gram) of RAJUK
Major Functions of RAJUK: The major functions of RAJUK are discussed below: 1. Planning: i) Physical Development:
Planni Planning ng is the fundam fundamenta entall issue issue in the proces processs of city city develo developme pment. nt. During During plan plan preparation RAJUK follows certain principles, which include National Urban Policy, Project Design, Planning, Multi Sector Investment Program and existing Policies and Programs of different Agencies. ii) Construction:
RAJUK is one of the lead "Construction Actor" in the development process of Dhaka. The main activities include construction of roads, box-culverts/culverts and bridges and also development, excavation and filling of land. 2. Planning and Designing:
Planning and design are the basic stage of construction. Project preparation, feasibility study study,, proj projec ectt prog progra ramm mmin ing g and and time time sched schedul ulin ing g are are dire direct ctly ly under under the the plan planni ning ng component.
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Design includes:
1. Conceptual Design 2. Selection of Materials 3. Design and Construction Code and Standards 4. Analysis of Dimensions and their Verification 5. Detailed Drawings 6. Detailed Qualities and Estimate of Materials. 7. Development Control
3. Development Control: i) The Town Improvement Act 1953:
City area is changing continuously through development activities by different actors like government agencies, private developers, individuals and others. Planned urban growth is mainly based on the development control measures. Land use control in urban areas of Bangladesh is initiated with the adoption of the Town Improvement Act 1953. ii) The East Bengal Building Construction Act 1952:
The East Bengal Building Construction Act, 1952, (amended 1987) is also considered a legal document for development control. Rules, regulations and ordinances of the City Author Authoriti ities es are also also being being exerci exercised sed for this this purpos purpose. e. Every Every constru constructi ction on requir requires es permission as per provision of `The East Bengal Building Construction Act 1952 (ame (amend nded ed 1987) 1987) (EBB (EBBC C Act Act 1952) 1952)'. '. The The devel developi oping ng agen agenci cies es are are empow empower ered ed for for planning permission and approval of building plans and prevent illegal constructions in the metropolitan areas. iii) Land Use Planning Rules:
Statutory rules control land use according to planning standards. It is based on land use policies including local plans, such as control of residential density, road standard, maintenance providing of infrastructure and services. The acts and the master plans of the cities cities are the principal principal legal instrument instruments, s, which force and exercise exercise planning planning control control and standards. The land use of metropolitan Dhaka ought to follow the provision of the City Master Plan. Housing, commercial and industrial project buildings need planning permission,
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which are generally practiced. It must be in conformity with the land use provision of the Master Plan. iv) Building Construction Rules:
According to the East Bengal Building Construction Act-1952 (amended 1987)', each and every building within the designated areas of City `Master Plan’ needs approval from the City Development Agencies. As per Acts, the definition of building is: `Building includes a house, hut, wall and any other structure where of masonry bricks, corrugated iron sheet, metal tires wood, bamboo, mud, leaves, grass, thatch or any other materials whatsoever'. The Act has empowered to initiate building rules under section 18, EBSC Act 1952 which has been updated, updated, based on public interest, interest, regularly regularly since 1954, (in 1984, and in 1996). It has been formulated through the Government of Bangladesh exercising the power of the Act. v) Authorized Sections and Building Construction (BC) Committees:
RAJUK has a Development Control Section (Authorized Section). Previously this section was comprised with two Authorized Officers, two Assistant Authorized Officers, four Chief Building Inspectors, 50 Building Inspectors and other staff. Now the number of Author Authorize ized d Section Section increased increased in four four (4) instead instead of two (2) by increa increasin sing g the staff members and demarking the areas specified under control of each authorized jurisdiction. These sections are supported by the four Building Construction (BC) Committees headed by the Members (Planning and Development) for approval of the building plans and exercising the powers of the Act for planned growth of the city.
Other Functions:
1. RAJUK as a prime Planning Authority represents Bangladesh as well as Dhaka City in various National and International Seminars, Symposiums and Workshops held in home and in abroad. 2. RAJUK tries to incorporate and share the ideas and concepts related to planning and development adopted or practiced p racticed in different part of the World. 3. RAJUK RAJUK partic participa ipates tes in variou variouss traini training ng progra programs ms to improv improvee the organi organizat zation ional al capabilities. RAJUK is an active member of CITYNET, SAARC-SHELTERNET and HABITAT-II.
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4. RAJUK organize Seminars and Workshops on different urban issues in regular basis, the seminar on World Habitat Day is an example.
Problems of RAJUK: Problems in practicing power, plans and limitations of Acts:
1. Due Due to nonnon-ap appl plic icat atio ions ns of powe powers rs and and lack lack in enfo enforc rcem emen entt of buil buildi ding ng constructions rules and regulations. Negligence in duties, intention to forgo some specif specific ic cases, cases, poor inspect inspection ion and report reporting ing and politi political cal influe influence nce made made Authorized Section of RAJUK a fearsome part of the organization. 2. Misuse Misuse of power power and Act also also shown shown by the Authorit Authority y as claimed claimed by the client clientss create unnecessary harassment and delay. 3. The The prov provis isio ions ns of Act clea clearl rly y defi define ned d that that the the plans plans shoul should d be forw forwar arded ded for clearance or approval within 45 days and if, any objection made in the plan must be notified within 30 days after submission for approval. In fact the process sometimes take more time as specified in the Act and in many cases it takes years to get the approval. 4. Today vast vast areas of the city city have no detailed detailed plans plans and inform informal al development development and and unauthorized construction occur due to lack of plans. RAJUK has not been able to generate local interest or activity for community participation in planning. 5. One of the major major componen components ts of the Master Master Plan "Institu "Institutio tional nal Strengt Strengthen hening ing of RAJUK," RAJUK," has not been considered considered by the concerned ministry ministry or by RAJUK. RAJUK. It is felt by many that RAJUK needs a big number of planners of planning for a mega city of approximately ten million inhabitants. 6. By 2005 RAJUK RAJUK should should have comple completed ted all the detail detailed ed area plans plans and started started their implementation at the local level but till now people are not sill aware of the DAP and its contents. Problems faced and created by People, clients or developers:
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In cas casee of som somee crit critic ical al iss issue ues, s, cli clien ents ts or or deve develo lope pers rs som somee how how mana manage ge the the authority for land use clearances for particular areas where development is restricted for specific purpose.
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Peopl Peoples es cla claim imed ed tha thatt the the file files/ s/pl plan anss are are not not appr approv oved ed pro prope perl rly y and and site sitess are are not not inspected as per given parameters.
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The The unne unneces cessa sary ry har haras assm sment ent or tim timee kill killin ing g or mis missi sing ng of of spe speci cifi ficc file filess or put objections on files are most common practice dealing the Authorized Sections. The overall performance of this section is not up to the mark as mentioned by the clients.
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In some cas cases the proc proceess of plan or building cons onstruct uction app approval or clearance delayed due to some undefined circumstances and caused peoples to take alternative solutions.
Problems identified by various Commissions, Committees, Reports and Comments:
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Acco Accord rdin ing g to the the AntiAnti-Co Corr rrup upti tion on Comm Commis issi sion on (ACC (ACC)) repo report rt of Jul July y 2011, 2011, RAJUK officials are using power to get illegal advantages and approved the construction of the buildings.
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According to priyodesk's blog on Friday, 16 November 2012, RAJUK has violated its own land use policy by allotting land earmarked in the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) as ‘open space’ to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association to set up a university.
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Acco Accord rdin ing g to the the com comme ment nt of of RAJU RAJUK K pres presen entt chai chairm rman an Nur Nurul ul Hud Huda, a, the the cit city y authority does not deal with ‘big issues’, pointing out that the inter-ministerial committee committee was formed to deal with big matters matters though RAJUK is the capital development authority.
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Resp Respon ondi ding ng to publ publiic criti critici cism sm tha thatt RAJU RAJUK K is dri driving ving out out only only the poor poor homeless from the lake area while sparing the influential grabbers.
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RAJUK RAJUK is an autono autonomo mous us bod body y wit with h ful fulll aut autho hori rity ty to impl implem ement ent the the Deta Detail iled ed Area Plan (DAP). But the RAJUK chairman himself agrees that ‘RAJUK alone cannot implement the DAP.’
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The The Subc Subcom omm mitte itteee of Parl Parliiamen amenttary ary Stan Standi ding ng Com Committe itteee on Hous Housin ing g and and Public Works Ministry has detected that some organizations are using the plots in commercial purpose violating the rules and regulations of RAJUK.
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Recommendation-How to make RAJUK as an effective body: Recommendation concerning power, plan and Acts:
1. Non-applica Non-application tion and misuse misuse of power power as well as the the limitatio limitations ns of Acts, Acts, rules and and regulations should be removed in order to increase the effectiveness of RAJUK. 2. The The prov provis isio ion n of Acts Acts shou should ld be more ore clea clearl rly y defi define ned d and and impl implem emen ente ted d in accordance with the details it contains. The process of approval of Acts should not take a long time and it should be approved within the time mentioned in the provision. 3. Areas of of the city city should should have detailed detailed plans, plans, formal formal developm development ent and authorize authorized d construction so that the lacking of plans could be removed. RAJUK should also attempt attempt more and more more to generat generatee local local intere interest st or activi activity ty for communit community y participation in planning. 4. The The comp compone onent nt-- "Ins "Insti titu tuti tion onal al Stre Strengt ngthe heni ning ng of RAJU RAJUK," K," of the the Mast Master er Plan Plan should be considered by the concerned ministry and by RAJUK so that the plan could be implemented properly by avoiding its obstacles. 5. The Detail Detailed ed Area Plans Plans (DAP) (DAP) at the local local levels levels taken by RAJUK RAJUK should should be implemented in such a way that people will become much aware of the DAP and its contents. Recommendations concerning people, clients and developers:
1. The clients clients and develope developers rs should should know and obey obey the restrict restriction ion of developmen developmentt in particular areas. The authority should not be convinced or managed by the clients and developers and they should perform their duties according to the requirements needed. 2. The files/pl files/plans ans should should be approved approved properly properly and sites sites should should be inspect inspected ed as per given parameters. 3. The process process concern concerning ing RAJUK’ RAJUK’ss activiti activities es should should be develop developed ed so that that it will will consume lesser time as a result people will get ride of unnecessary harassment. All files and objections of files must be kept with as much safety as possible and
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the overall performance of Authorized Section of RAJUK should be up to the mark. 4. Prio Priori rity ty shou should ld be give given n in sect sector oral al plan planss and and the the prepa prepara rati tion on of inte integr grat ated ed development plans and building construction approval should be moderated so the people need not to take any alternative solution. Other Recommendations:
1. RAJUK RAJUK officia officials ls must be honest honest in using using power and they they should should be superv supervise ised d properly so that they will not be able to get any illegal advantages. 2. RAJUK RAJUK must implem implement ent the Detaile Detailed d Area Area Plans Plans (DAP) (DAP) as quickl quickly y as possibl possiblee without violating its own land and policy. If this plan will implement properly, the effectiveness of RAJUK will be increased. 3. The city city authori authority ty of RAJUK shoul should d deal with all issue issuess that it suppose supposed d to deal with. 4. RAJU RAJUK K must must make make its its plan plan,, prog progra rams ms and and acti activi viti ties es more more propro-po poor or.. RAJU RAJUK K should give more stress on the welfare of poor and homeless people specially in lack areas in terms of giving stress on influential grabbers. 5. Super Supervi visi sion on in comp compul ulso sory ry to stop stop the the viol violat atio ion n of rules rules and and regul regulat atio ions ns of RAJUK by any organizations or authority so that they will be restricted in using the plots in commercial purpose. Besides these1. RAJUK will will need need to construct construct roads roads and lanes lanes as well as widen the the existing existing ones. 2. RAJ RAJUK must ust incr ncrease ease its manpo anpowe werr. It must ust have have adeq adequa uatte num number ber of professional and technical manpower worthy of executing planning functions for this mega city. 3. RAJU RAJUK K must ust plac placee tota totall emph emphas asis is on its its plan planni ning ng acti activi viti ties es and and quit quit land land development development functions. RAJUK should should also install install sustainabl sustainablee capabiliti capabilities es to prepare and implement such plans.
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4. Zonal Zonal Offices Offices of RAJUK RAJUK is necessary necessary.. This could could be merge merged d with with DCC's zonal zonal offices so that city planning and service management functions can work together in coordination for the benefit of the city. 5. RAJU RAJUK K has has limi limite ted d power power for adop adopti ting ng lega legall meas measur ures es deal dealin ing g with with build buildin ing g control, which hinders its functions. Special laws have to be enacted to empower RAJUK for planning and building control functions. 6. RAJUK shoul ould allot 50 percen cent of the land to low income groups for rehabilitation of slum and squatter settlements. If this is done as an alternative to eviction RAJUK will be doing a much better job of making Dhaka more livable at the same time it will also become a more effective body.
Conclusion: RAJUK deals with certain aspect of urban development problems like preparation of land use plan, detail area plan and enforcement of town development regulations to control unpla unplann nned ed deve develo lopm pment ent.. It is a gian giantt orga organi niza zati tion on as rega regard rdss capit capital al inpu inputt and and development activities. But its administrative structure, planning and co-ordination do not support the scale at which it is working. The organization losses effectiveness in work often because of corruption and a lack interdepartmental co-ordination. One common allegation against RAJUK is its operations as an organization for serving the interest of the people close to power and specially the members of the party in power. Projects take so much time in implementing that flexibility study losses value at the time of their implementati implementation. on. In order to remove these problems, problems, RAJUK should should be substantiall substantially y reformed as indicated elsewhere in the paper for making its planning, infrastructure and service providing, land development and development control more effective.
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Reference: Supporting Urban Governance Reform; (April 2005), Final Report; Final Report; ADB, p. 2-77, 2-79, 3-24 http://www.rajukdhaka.gov.bd/rajuk/aboutusHome,, Accessed on 14/11/2012 http://www.rajukdhaka.gov.bd/rajuk/aboutusHome http://www.rajukdhaka.gov.bd/rajuk/page/web/about/rajuk_organogram , Accessed on 14/11/12
http://forum.daffodilvarsity.edu.bd/index.php? PHPSESSID=ldcoqlsq8n48qor7upgk55s7d6&topic=4560.0, Accessed on 15/11/2012 http://newstoday.com.bd/rss.xml,, Accessed on 16/11/2012 http://newstoday.com.bd/rss.xml http://news.priyo.com/sites/all/themes/framework/favicon.ico , Accessed on 16/11/2012
http://www.banglanews24.com/images/common/banglanews24.ico , Accessed on 17/11/2012
http://www.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2010/02/ds19/segment1/governance.htm , Accessed on 17/11/2012
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