BIP calls for action against illegal structures near HSIA

Dhaka : The Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) on July 25 called for a comprehensive technical assessment of all high-occupancy structures located within the flight approach and funnel zones of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and urged legal action against buildings lacking proper approvals.

At a press conference titled "Aircraft Crash at Milestone School: The State's Responsibilities and Actions in Public Safety and Development Control", held at the BIP Conference Hall, BIP leaders also demanded the publication of a white paper detailing planning-related violations in Dhaka, followed by corrective actions based on its findings.

Presenting key insights from a rapid assessment conducted by BIP's research team, Planner Tamjidul Islam, joint secretary of BIP, said the permanent campus of Milestone School lies within the inner approach area of the airport's runway.

He said the location not only hampers aviation operations and safety but also poses long-term public health risks, such as excessive noise pollution and high carbon emissions.

While the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has guidelines under the Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) to regulate building height, Tamjidul pointed to the absence of land use restrictions defining what types of institutions or structures are permissible in such sensitive zones.

He said neither the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP) nor the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) includes policies to restrict land use near the airport's OLS zones, which are essential for ensuring public safety and health.

Globally, land uses that attract large gatherings-such as residential areas, schools, hospitals, community centers, and commercial buildings-are discouraged within inner runway approach zones. Unfortunately, such global best practices are rarely implemented in Bangladesh, he said.