A Bangladesh delegation led by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Ferdousi Begum is participating in the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan, being held from May 17 to 22 under the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.”
The forum is jointly organized by UN-Habitat and the Government of Azerbaijan. The opening session featured remarks by UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, followed by a ministerial meeting on the “New Urban Agenda,” focusing on sustainable and affordable housing worldwide.
The Bangladesh delegation includes Deputy Secretary Md. Abdul Awal, Chief Urban Planner Md. Ashraful Islam, and Chief Architect Md. Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan. Representatives from more than 55 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, are attending the event.
During the ministerial discussions, Bangladesh highlighted its ongoing efforts in planned urbanization, affordable housing, and climate-resilient development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The delegation emphasized the country’s newly enacted Spatial Planning Act aimed at ensuring balanced regional development and reducing pressure on Dhaka through projects such as Purbachal New Town, Jhilmil Residential Project, and Uttara Phase-3.
Bangladesh also presented its affordable housing initiatives, including slum upgrading projects in Tongi Dattapara and Korail, alongside incentives for low- and middle-income housing.
The delegation reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to climate-resilient urban planning and showcased the “Old Dhaka Revitalization Project” as a major initiative to improve livability, safety, and heritage preservation.
Bangladesh further acknowledged the continued support of UN-Habitat, the World Bank, UNOPS, and UNESCAP in promoting inclusive housing and sustainable urban development across the country.
