Recent earthquakes, including a 5.7-magnitude tremor on November 21 that killed at least 10, have thrust Dhaka’s risky infrastructure into the spotlight. As Bangladesh’s economic hub, the city faces acute seismic threats, experts warn. They argue that chronic irregularities at the Rajdhani Unnoyon Kortipokkho (RAJUK), especially bribery in building design approvals and inspections, along with the practice of allowing construction that violates regulations, have only intensified that danger. Yet when accidents occur, the agency punishes only building owners, not the officials whose negligence or misconduct may have contributed to the approvals.
On November 21, RAJUK Chairman Md Reazul Islam inspected quake-damaged sites in Old Dhaka's Armanitola, Mugda, and Badda’s Alatunnessa School and College. He inspected the Armanitola building, where a railing collapse killed three people. When the building’s owners failed to produce its approved design and were unable to show that adequate safety measures were in place, the chairman voiced frustration. He ordered the owners to submit the design to his office within seven days and instructed them to remove the building’s hazardous sections. He then inspected another building in Mugda that had tilted toward an adjacent structure. After reviewing the condition of both buildings, the authority closed the ground-floor shops and ordered the owners to submit their designs within seven days.
Back in March 2024, a blaze tore through a building on Bailey Road, killing nearly 50 people. After the incident, the agency stated that the building did not have permission to operate restaurants. Police later opened a case at Ramna Police Station against the building’s owner as well as three restaurant owners on charges of attempted murder and causing death through negligence.
Experts note that RAJUK bears responsibility for any irregularities involving buildings in the city. But whenever a disaster occurs, the authority avoids accountability by declaring the structure unauthorized or illegal. This, they argue, shields its officials and staff from consequences for negligence.
Stakeholders in the construction sector say the agency’s failures are a major reason behind the city’s current situation. They contend that because officials rarely face punishment for misconduct, the system has not improved. The most serious irregularities involve land-use clearances and building design approvals. Insiders say that the design approval process has become so compromised that obtaining it without paying large bribes is nearly impossible. Homeowners often set aside bribe money before they even begin construction. Depending on the house or project, applicants report paying between BDT 500,000 and several million taka in bribes. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) conducted a study on corruption at RAJUK between November 2018 and December 2019. The report found that applicants paid between BDT 50,000 and BDT 20 million in bribes for design approval.
The most serious corruption at RAJUK occurs in the building design approval process, where applicants often find themselves trapped. To curb these practices, the agency introduced an online service in 2022 called the Electronic Construction Permitting System (ECPS). Anyone seeking design approval must open an account on the site by submitting land documents, tax receipts, a national ID, and other materials. Several RAJUK officials, however, told Bonik Barta that the website functions largely in name only and that the procedure still follows a desk-to-desk process.
Architect Abu Sayeed M Ahmed is the current president of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB). He said plans do not get approved at RAJUK without bribes. Speaking to Bonik Barta, he added, “We have been campaigning for years for RAJUK to take control of its corrupt authorized officers and building inspectors and to disclose how many of them there are. This is entirely possible. No building is constructed without the signature of an authorized officer and a building inspector. When a building tilts or catches fire, holding the officer who signed off on it accountable would immediately set an example. But RAJUK doesn’t do that. They only fine building owners or demolish the structure, while their own staff face no consequences for negligence.”
He added, “What is most frustrating is that when we submit documents for approval, the process drags on for months, but if you hire an intermediary, you get approval in seven days. RAJUK must end this chaos. It must publish the list of corrupt authorized officers and building inspectors and bring them under disciplinary action.”
Any violation of building rules signals that the responsible authorized officer or inspector at RAJUK did not carry out their duties properly, said Dr. Md Akter Mahmud, a professor of urban and regional planning at Jahangirnagar University (JU). He told Bonik Barta, “Multiple parties are involved in constructing a building, including the owner, engineers, contractors, and RAJUK. The owner violates the law, but the authorized officer and inspector also commit wrongdoing without stopping it. Yet we see that only the owner faces punishment. They are fined, and their buildings are demolished. The authorized officers who neglect their duties and accept large bribes are never punished. The bribes may not always be provable. But the negligence is undeniable.”
He added, “Authorized officers are paid to ensure buildings are constructed correctly. Won’t they be held responsible for the unlawful structures that rise in their zones?”
Insiders allege that corruption among RAJUK officials has turned much of the capital Dhaka into an uninhabitable city. In areas such as Old Dhaka, Mohammadpur, Bosila, Keraniganj, Ruhitpur, Demra, Chittagong Road, and Rupganj, many building owners construct structures without RAJUK’s approval. Industry professionals say most of these owners act in collusion with authorized officers and building inspectors.
Experts say no building in Dhaka would violate regulations if RAJUK chose to enforce the rules. Officers in each zone allegedly accept bribes during the design approval stage. Inspectors then take bribes during construction and remain silent. Once a building is complete, owners reportedly obtain occupancy certificates in exchange for money. When a fire or collapse occurs, officials blame deviations from the approved design.
Asked about these claims, Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan, managing director of the private housing firm Varieds Builders, told Bonik Barta, “On paper, RAJUK is spotless. They have never officially approved a building in violation of the rules. But they have unwritten arrangements with owners. Even when the correct design is submitted, they do nothing when a building is constructed however the owner wants. No one says anything as long as payments are made. When an accident occurs, RAJUK officials point to the original design and walk away.”
He added, “If a building owner or developer knew with certainty that any violation would lead to demolition no matter what, why would anyone invest millions to build illegally? Everyone knows you can pay your way out at RAJUK. Once a building is standing, RAJUK cannot do anything. In the end, RAJUK officials enrich themselves, while ordinary people die in earthquakes, wall collapses, and fires.”
The developer lamented that an institution as powerful as RAJUK could have made Dhaka a livable city. “If RAJUK had demolished columns whenever a building ignored its approved design, no one would dare violate the plan. Instead, they break a balcony or chip at a gate and ask the owner to visit the office. That is when the owner understands why they have been asked to come,” he said.
RAJUK Chairman Md Reazul Islam, however, believes the primary responsibility lies with the building owners. Speaking to Bonik Barta, he said, “RAJUK doesn’t design plans for anyone. Owners hire engineers or architects to prepare the plan and submit it to RAJUK on the condition that they will follow the rules. If they do not, any fines or penalties should fall on them. RAJUK is not responsible for that.”
Md Nazrul Islam, secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, struck a contrasting note, “Many violations have occurred because government officials and employees lacked accountability and good governance,” he said. “The ministry has declared zero tolerance for corruption. We have stripped the authority of those authorized officers who were proven to be involved in such offenses. We have decided to bring these officers under disciplinary action.”