Home
+
Published : 09 Oct 2025, 09:27 PM
The government is setting up development authorities for Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Barishal to drive planned urbanisation.
The Advisory Council on Thursday approved the relevant ordinances at a meeting chaired by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office.
Briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said separate ordinances would be issued to establish authorities centred on the three divisional cities.
“After these authorities are formed, a number of development functions will shift from local administrations to the development authorities, similar to how RAJUK (Capital Development Authority) exercises powers over building plans, land-use reclassification and other approvals in Dhaka’s two city areas,” he said.
Bangladesh already has development authorities in Chattogram, Khulna, Gazipur and Sylhet.
During the fallen Awami League regime, moves were made to create authorities in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Barishal and Payra.
A paper placed before the Advisory Council on the Mymensingh Development Authority said a draft “Mymensingh Development Authority Ordinance, 2025” had been prepared because there is an urgent need to establish an authority while parliament remains dissolved.
The proposal says the authority is intended to build a planned, modern city comprising Mymensingh and adjacent areas, maintain geo-natural and ecological balance, prevent unplanned urbanisation, ensure disaster-resilient urban management, promote information technology and tourism, and guarantee improved civic life.
According to the draft, the ordinance provides for establishing the Mymensingh Development Authority with defined duties and functions, the preparation of a master plan and on its basis, the planning and implementation of development projects.
It confers powers to purchase or lease land, acquire land and levy development fees.
It also sets penalties for land use that contravenes the master plan and imposes restrictions on building construction, excavation of water bodies, filling low-lying land, obstructing flows in natural waterbodies, and reclassifying playgrounds, parks and natural water bodies.
The draft prescribes penalties for construction that deviates from approved designs, authorises the removal of unauthorised structures under construction and the eviction of occupants, and bars local authorities from issuing building permits within the jurisdiction.
In addition, it prohibits the authority’s chairman, members or employees from holding shares, interests or contracts in the authority’s schemes.
