Experts have emphasized the importance of structural safety and following green building standards in the construction of safe, eco-friendly, energy-efficient and climate-resilient buildings in Bangladesh, a press release said.
At the workshop and seminar titled “Advancing High-Performance Buildings: Green Standards and Structural Safety in Bangladesh”, speakers said that in keeping with rapid urbanization, it is necessary to ensure not only the construction of more buildings, but also the construction of safe, sustainable and future-friendly buildings.
The workshop was held on Saturday at Harmony Hall, BACFCC, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, in the capital, organized by Ad Point and with the overall support of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB). The workshop, organized in collaboration with JCX Group and Senju Group, was attended by people from the housing, construction, architecture, engineering and environment sectors.
The event was graced by the Chief Guest, Honorable State Minister for Housing and Public Works, Ahmed Sohel Manjur MP. The event was graced by the special guests, including the Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartikharaja (RAJUK), Engineer Md. Riazul Islam, President of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Professor Abu Sayeed M Ahmed, and Senior Vice President of REHAB, Abdur Razzak.
In his speech as the Chief Guest, Ahmed Sohel Manjur MP said that Bangladesh is moving forward through rapid urbanization and with it the demand for housing and urban infrastructure is also increasing. However, in the future urban development, priority should be given not only to building more buildings, but also to building safe, environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and climate-resilient buildings.
He said that a building is not just a combination of bricks, sand, cement and rods; it is directly related to the safety, health, livelihood and environment of the future generations. Therefore, the philosophy of building construction should also be changed.
He further said, “More buildings” should not be our goal, but “Better buildings”.
The chief guest emphasized on ensuring the structural safety of buildings, mentioning the risks of various natural disasters including earthquakes, cyclones, floods, heavy rains and waterlogging in Bangladesh. In this regard, he called for proper follow-up of the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC).
Regarding green buildings, he said that to combat the effects of climate change, energy saving, water management, natural light and air, and a healthy living environment must be ensured in building construction. He emphasized on ensuring that the concept of green building is not limited to high-priced commercial or luxury buildings but also applies to the housing of the middle class and the common people.
He also emphasized on creating incentives, faster approvals, financial benefits and green financing opportunities for the construction of environmentally friendly and high-performance buildings.
The keynote address and technical session at the workshop were conducted by Professor Rakib Ahsan, faculty member of the Department of Civil Engineering, BUET; ATM Iqbal Chowdhury, Green and Resilient Buildings Specialist, International Finance Corporation (IFC)-World Bank Group; and Architect Md. Nafizur Rahman, Principal Research Officer, HBRI.
Also speaking were Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury, Managing Director, JCX Group; Md. Belayet Hossain, Managing Director, Senju Group; and George Yeh Yang, Design Group, China.
The speakers said that the foundation for the safety and sustainable management of a building is laid at the beginning of design and construction. Therefore, safe and environmentally friendly buildings must be built through coordinated efforts of architects, engineers, developers, policymakers and all relevant parties.
The workshop specifically discussed green building ratings, environmentally friendly construction materials, earthquake risk, structural safety, sustainable construction and the need for high-performance buildings in Bangladesh.
The organizers hope that such workshops will play an important role in further strengthening the culture of safety, environmental responsibility, and sustainable development in the housing and construction sectors of Bangladesh.
