Government moves to revise DAP again, with Floor Area Ratio set to ‘increase’

Urban planners say the Detailed Area Plan is being amended mainly to please the real estate trade body REHAB

The interim administration has decided to revise the Detailed Area Plan (DAP), initiated during the previous government, to make Dhaka more livable.

This involves introducing changes, such as increasing the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in certain regions.

Urban planners say the revision is aimed at pleasing the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), while the trade body claims their demands have not been fully met.

The decision came on Sunday at a meeting at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works to amend FAR based on existing roads, area-specific FAR, and housing unit numbers in the current DAP.

The event also discussed the draft Dhaka Building Code 2025, with Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan in the chair.

A RAJUK officer, REHAB Vice President Abdul Latif, and Bangladesh Institute of Planners President Adil Muhammad Khan confirmed the DAP revision decision to bdnews24.com.

The RAJUK official, who is unwilling to be named, said: “The meeting reached a consensus on area-specific FAR adjustments, including for rural zones such as Daserkandi, Kanchpur, Moynartek, Alipur, Ruhitpur, Birulia, and Bongram, covering about 16 density blocks.

“Housing units will be determined based on the 2011 BBS household size data.”

A technical committee with all professional organisations will be formed within a year to improve the 2022–2035 DAP further and advise RAJUK on making Dhaka more habitable.

BIP President Adil Muhammad said, “In short, FAR will increase. This means taller buildings, more concrete, and less light and ventilation.

“With more housing units, population density will rise, putting pressure on services. These changes will severely affect the city’s liveability.”

The government gazetted the new DAP for 2022–2035 on Aug 24, 2022. Since then, real estate firms have pressed for changes.

On Jan 16 last year, the ministry amended the DAP, increasing FAR benefits for public and private housing, unplanned areas, block-based housing, and integrated plots.

That revision also allowed wider and taller buildings, relaxing road-width requirements for construction.