The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Environmentalists, urban planners and experts at a seminar in the city said architecture and life are closely related with each other. While planning a city and designing any architecture, all should keep in mind the welfare of the people, socio-cultural environment and the cause of humanity.

People are becoming urbanised, which is making human life mechnaised, self-centred and detached from each other. For this reason, different social problems have been created in city life, which has influenced the urban lifestyle, they said.

This was said at the seminar on 'Pro-People Urban Design: Learning from Copenhagen' organised by WBB Trust at CIRDAP Auditorium yesterday.

Prof Dr Jan Gail, architect from Copenhagen of Denmark, presented a key-note paper, while Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, Programme Manager of WBB Trust, moderated the session.

Dr Gail said, "To make Dhaka city environment-friendly we can follow the development of various cities like Bogotá and cities of Scandinavian countries. Although these cities were like Dhaka, now these became liveable cities in the world by following some planning."

Different countries across the world have increased walking facilities for pedestrians, use of bi-cycles and non-motorised vehicles keeping in mind the development of environment, energy, economy and health services, he said.

In Seoul, flyover on the river was dismantled to enlarge the width of the river. In Denmark, use of bi-cycle is 37 per cent of the total transports. The Danish government is planning to bring it to 50 per cent from 37 per cent, Dr Gail said and added, "If we plan to build a city, we should keep in mind the environmental development to keep the city clean and environment-friendly. For this reason, we should give priority while building any city."

Dr Rukshana Hafiz, Chairman of Department of Urban and Regional Planning of BUET, said, "Our cities are rapidly developing and changing. We have become more self-centred.

Our children are deprived of open space for playing in the city areas. As a result, their physical and mental development are hampered, she said."

Debra Efforemson, Regional Director of Healthbridge of Canada, stressed on making an environment-friendly city to develop the urban lifestyle.

Now the present transport planning is encouraging the use of private motorised vehicles, which will impact on our environment, economy, health, social-cultural condition and poverty. We should emphasise on building public places in urban areas," the speakers said.

Translated book of Dr Jan Gail titled 'Life Between Building' was launched at the seminar. The book was translated in 15 languages across the world.

Mohidul Hoque Khan, General Secretary of BAPA, Ifma Hossain of Peace, Saifuddin Ahmed, Executive Director of WBB Trust, among others, spoke on the occasion.