Prime Minister Tareque Rahman has said that the government is working to ensure safe and sustainable housing for all citizens of the country. He said, “Ensuring safe housing for everyone is relatively easier for developed countries, but it is not as easy for countries like Bangladesh. However, alongside ensuring universal housing, the government is also placing emphasis on sustainable urbanization.”

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion meeting held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital on Monday (October 5) to mark World Habitat Day 2026. This year’s World Habitat Day is being observed under the theme “Universal Housing, Sustainable Urbanization.”

The prime minister said, “Alongside ensuring safe, quality and affordable housing for everyone in cities, it is essential to build environmentally friendly and well-planned urban areas. The government is working to ensure universal housing and sustainable urbanization.”

He said the government is working on various possible plans to reduce the growing population pressure in urban areas. “Along with making communication between the capital Dhaka and other cities across the country faster, more affordable and safer, emphasis is also being placed on increasing civic amenities for people in rural areas. Through this, the government believes it is possible to create an effective alternative to reduce the pressure of migration toward cities,” he said.

The prime minister also highlighted the need to bring every region outside the major cities into the mainstream of national development. To this end, he announced an initiative to develop a secondary township around the capital, Dhaka.

The World Habitat Day programme, organized by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, began on Monday morning. Before the discussion, the prime minister planted a Sonalu (golden trumpet) sapling on the premises of the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Suman, State Minister Ahmmed Sohel Manzur, ministry secretary Md Obaidur Rahman and senior officials concerned were present on the occasion.