First Bangladesh “smart city”

Officials have announced that the first Bangladesh “smart city” is to be built in Purbachal in central Bangladesh by 2018.

The country’s first smart city – which was initially planned in 1996 by then Awami League-led government – is to be developed between the Shitalakhya and Balu rivers in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj district and Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur district.

Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), M Bazlul Karim Chowdhury, said: “The government has a plan to build Purbachal new town project as a smart city where quality infrastructure will be built with modern amenities for a high standard of living.”

The city – which will be divided into 30 different sectors – will become the largest planned township in the country at 6,228 acres.

The smart city will feature a separate water supply and sewerage system, as well as a waste treatment plan and power generation and supply system.

Measures will also be taken to keep the city green.

There are plans to build a stadium – connected to the metro service – in the city as well as a 142-storey tower and the biggest exhibition centre of the country, in order to host Dhaka International Trade Fair.

The planners want to develop efficient public transport, affordable housing, health and education services and a strict security system for around 10 million people in the next three years.

Md Abdur Rahman of Rajuk said: “Around 85% land development work has already been completed.”