Our urbanization process is continuously degrading our environment and increasing our consumption level. Buildings of the Dhaka city do not have the system of natural light and air. As a result, the usage of electricity is increasing. But a little change in the planning can change this situation. We are prioritizing private cars as a part of urbanization. And it is resulting to a large number of cars and traffic jam and wastage of our precious working hours. It is also increasing the consumption level of fossil fuel. With population growth both usage and wastage of water, electricity, gas and other utilities are increasing. The economic loss of Dhaka city is 23,000 crore taka every year. Unplanned urbanization is affecting the proper growth of our children. According to a report of 2014, 33% people of Bangladesh live in urban area and 8 million people live in the city corporation area. Even after having a large number of people living in the urban area, our cities are not building up with a proper plan. Speakers present at the seminar named “Urban Life and Actions to Reducing Consumption” expressed the above mentioned view.  The seminar was jointly organized by Department of Environment, Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), Bangladesh Institute of Planners (B.I.P) and Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust and the seminar was held on 8^th June 2015, at Hoimonti Conference Room, Forest Department, Ban Bhaban, Agargaon, Dhaka.

Dr. Sultan Ahmed, Joint Secretary, Director, Department of Environment (Natural Resource Management) delivered the welcome speech. He said that if we do not change the pattern of our development and consumption then our resource will be finished soon and our existence will be threatened. We are covering our whole city with concrete in the name of development and that is resulting to increased temperature. We are not considerate about our consumption. Every day 20-30% food is being wasted in Dhaka city. We must be conscious about these issues and need to take proper initiatives regarding these.

Maruf Hossain, National Advocacy Office, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, was the key note speaker of the seminar. He said that the importance of being considerate while using resources is something that was focused by many famous people of the world. At present the number of air conditions is increasing rapidly in Dhaka city. At present 20%, in other words 1600 mega watt, electricity is being used only for air condition purpose. But properly built buildings could have solved the problem. Everyday new cars are joining the old ones and the amount of pollution is increasing. But if necessary steps were taken to repair footpaths, promote public transport and non-motorized transport; then the pollution rate and transport cost both could have been reduced.

Dr. Akter Mahmud, General Secretary, Bangladesh Institute of Planners (B.I.P) said that, we are repeatedly talking about decentralizing Dhaka but there is no necessary step for implementation. We are filling the wetland areas to build new infrastructures. As a result we are losing surface water and being depended on ground water. We are spending a huge amount of money for water projects. If we had planned urbanization then we could have prevented this wastage.

Muhammad Moududur Rashid Safdar, Director, (Dhaka Metro) Department of Environment said that, our development projects mainly focus on urban areas. So people moves towards Dhaka in search for better opportunities. It is a problem for Dhaka city to accommodate such a large number of people. In a recent report we have seen that temperature in the urban area is 8 degree higher than the rural areas. Now it is high time to take initiative to decentralize Dhaka.   

Qazi Sorwar Imtiaz Hasmi, acting Director General, Department of Environment said that we got resources from our ancestor and consuming without thinking about our future generations. Our initiatives to reduce consumption should begin from household. If everyone contributes a little, it will be fruitful for the future. 

Chief Guest of the seminar A M M Shafiullah, Vice Chancellor, Ahsanullah Science and Technology University, said that according to a report of 2014 54% people of the world lives in urban area. By 2050 it will increase to 66%. So our focus should be on proper urbanization plan. But we are shifting towards a dam-oriented urbanization. We cannot deny that Dhaka city is safe from the dangers of flood but it is also true that for the dam, sediments are not entering and agriculture is very poor here. There is no initiative to protect Dhaka when water will over flow the dam. 

Chairman of the seminar, Abu Naser Khan, Chairman, Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) said that personal interest was focused on urban planning; as a result at present we are observing an unplanned Dhaka. This has an effect on all the aspects of people’s life. All the development projects must be equal throughout the country. Development projects must be permitted from Department of Environment after proper evaluation. This will be effective for both development and environmental safety.

Maruf Hossain, National Advocacy Officer, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, was the key note speaker and Syed Mahbubul Alam, Technical Consultant, The Union, was the moderator of the seminar.