Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring safe, affordable, environmentally friendly and dignified housing for all, alongside planned, inclusive and sustainable urbanisation.
In a message marking World Habitat Day 2026, he said long-term policies were being implemented by integrating housing, urban planning, civic services, environmental protection and climate resilience.
The Prime Minister said the government was giving particular priority to housing for low-income people and balanced urban development.
He said World Habitat Day reminds people of the responsibility to ensure adequate, safe and affordable housing for all citizens and to create cities and settlements where people can access essential civic services, a healthy environment and live with dignity.
Tarique Rahman said one of the key objectives of observing World Habitat Day was to build safe, healthy and liveable cities through planned urbanisation and sustainable development.
He said the day has been observed in Bangladesh and other countries on the first Monday of October since 1986. This year, Bangladesh is observing the day with the commitment of “Universal Housing, Sustainable Urbanisation”.
Referring to the UN-declared theme “Adequate Housing for All”, the Prime Minister said it was particularly timely amid rapid urbanisation, population growth and rising housing demand in Bangladesh.
He said the rapid expansion of Dhaka and other urban areas was creating challenges including unplanned urbanisation, traffic congestion, pollution, inadequate civic services, housing shortages and climate-induced migration.
To address these challenges, Tarique Rahman said the government’s election manifesto contains commitments to balanced regional development, planned urbanisation and affordable housing for low-income families and slum dwellers.
It also includes plans to create opportunities for slum dwellers to acquire housing ownership and establish integrated water and waste management systems, he added.
The Prime Minister said the government views “housing for all” not simply as providing a house but as an integrated guarantee of safe water, sanitation, a clean environment and essential civic services.
He said master plans were being prepared for every city corporation and district as part of the government’s efforts for planned urbanisation.
The establishment of development authorities in Sylhet, Mymensingh, Barishal, Cumilla, Rangpur and Narayanganj is also strengthening the institutional foundation for planned and balanced urban development, he said.
“These initiatives will play an important role in building safe, inclusive, climate-resilient and sustainable cities and in achieving SDG-11,” he said.
Tarique Rahman said sustainable housing and urbanisation was not solely the responsibility of the government and called for coordinated participation from private investors, local communities, NGOs, voluntary organisations, research institutions and international partners.
He said public-private partnerships could play an effective role in housing for low-income people, slum development, water and waste management and environmental protection.
The Prime Minister said the government wanted to build a Bangladesh where everyone, whether living in urban or rural areas, could enjoy safe and affordable housing, essential civic services and a healthy, clean and dignified environment.
He wished overall success of World Habitat Day 2026.
