Condominium Could Transform Old Dhaka into a Safe 15-Minute City

Old Dhaka already has almost all features of a modern "15-Minute City", but poor planning and weak infrastructure have made it vulnerable to disasters, according to Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed, Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering and a structural engineering expert.

He said residents of Old Dhaka can easily reach markets, schools, healthcare facilities, places of worship, workplaces and other essential services within a short distance. As a result, people do not have to travel far for most of their daily needs. In this sense, Old Dhaka reflects many of the principles of the modern 15-Minute City.

However, Dr. Ahmed pointed out that Old Dhaka was not developed through planned urbanization. Instead, the area grew gradually over centuries in an unplanned manner. This has created a highly crowded and risky urban environment. He said narrow roads, limited open spaces, unplanned building construction and weak infrastructure make rescue operations extremely difficult during fires or other emergencies. Several devastating fires in Old Dhaka in recent years, which caused heavy loss of lives and property, clearly demonstrate these risks.

According to Dr. Ahmed, having the characteristics of a 15-Minute City alone does not make a city truly livable. A safe and sustainable city also requires planned housing, adequate open spaces, wider roads, modern fire safety systems and effective urban management.

To address these challenges, he stressed the need for condominium-based redevelopment in Old Dhaka. He said planned condominium projects could provide modern safety systems, emergency exits, sufficient open spaces, parking facilities and improved civic services. Such development would not only improve the safety of current residents but also help build a modern and livable Old Dhaka for future generations.

Dr. Ahmed acknowledged that implementing condominium-based redevelopment in Old Dhaka would be extremely challenging. Land ownership in the area is highly fragmented, with many people owning only one or two kathas of land, or even less. Bringing together so many landowners with different interests into a single redevelopment project would be difficult.

For this reason, he believes the government must play a leading role. The government should introduce clear policies, a strong legal framework, financial incentives and an effective coordination system to support land consolidation and redevelopment. He also emphasized that gaining the confidence of landowners, protecting their rights and ensuring their participation in the planning process are essential. With proper government support and community involvement, Dr. Ahmed believes Old Dhaka can be transformed into a safer, more sustainable and modern 15-Minute City while preserving its unique urban character.