Government Committed to Safe, Sustainable Housing for All: Tarique Rahman
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that the government’s vision extends beyond merely providing a house, focusing instead on ensuring secure, affordable, eco-friendly, and service-integrated housing for all citizens. Speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of World Habitat Day 2026 at the Hall of Fame in the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, he affirmed that all necessary measures are being taken to guarantee universal housing and sustainable urbanization. He emphasized that safe and dignified housing is a basic right of every citizen, reiterating the government’s firm commitment to fulfilling this pledge.
The PM observed that World Habitat Day signifies much more than just having a roof overhead, as it encompasses access to safe water, uninterrupted electricity, improved sanitation, public transit, education, health services, and adequate employment. Acknowledging the severe population pressure on Dhaka and other urban centers, he noted that living conditions exceeding normal capacity have created complex urban crises. He stressed that ensuring safe and sustainable housing for a densely populated country like Bangladesh is particularly challenging, but essential for surviving with dignity in a competitive world.
To address these urban challenges, the government is prioritizing planned, safe, and environmentally friendly cities, with special focus given to low- and low-middle-income populations. PM Tarique Rahman highlighted that planned urbanization and housing facilities for limited-income families stand as key electoral commitments. In line with this vision, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works is formulating master plans for every city corporation and district, alongside newly established development authorities in Sylhet, Mymensingh, Barishal, Cumilla, Rangpur, and Narayanganj, aligning directly with United Nations SDG 11.
To ease mounting pressure on major cities, the government has adopted strategies to promote decentralized and balanced regional development rather than concentrated urbanization. The PM stated that enhancing national connectivity with Dhaka to make transportation faster, safer, and more affordable, combined with expanding civic amenities in rural areas, will effectively curb urban migration. Furthermore, spatial planning for the entire country is under preparation, alongside strategic plans to build secondary townships surrounding the capital city to absorb ongoing population growth smoothly.
Environmental protection remains a paramount consideration in creating livable habitats across divisional, district, and sub-district towns through the National Housing Authority and regional development bodies. Acknowledging current global economic and political realities, PM Tarique Rahman assured that the government is maintaining sincere efforts to execute solutions transparently. He also called for active participation from private real estate entrepreneurs and relevant stakeholders, noting that government action alone is insufficient to resolve the national housing shortage and foster block-based housing and green spaces.
The inaugural event, centered around the theme ‘Universal Housing, Sustainable Urbanization,’ opened with recitations from religious scriptures and featured the screening of a special documentary alongside the unveiling of a commemorative publication. Before the ceremony, PM Tarique Rahman planted a ‘Sornochampa’ sapling on the conference center premises. Following the discussion session, he officially opened a three-day housing fair in the lobby, visiting stalls set up by public agencies and real estate enterprises, and signing the official visitors’ book.
The discussion session was chaired by Minister for Housing and Public Works Zakaria Taher Suman, with notable attendance from Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintoo, Minister of State for Housing and Public Works Ahammad Sohel Manjur, UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis (Carol Flore-Smereczniak), and Housing and Public Works Secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman. Senior government officials, Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers, and Special Assistants to the PM were also present at the session.
