The Fair Urban Charter 2024 Forum, an event focused on imagining just and inclusive urban futures for Bangladesh, will take place in Dhaka on November 19 and 20. The venue is Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB).
River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) and Just Urban are jointly organising the event. Press Institute Bangladesh is the event co-organiser, while Mission Green Bangladesh is the campaign organiser.
Mohammad Azaz, chairman of the RDRC; confirmed the matter to The Bangladesh Post on Sunday.
He said that the Fair Urban Charter 2024 Forum would gather some 300 participants. Among them 150 will take part in the event from Dhaka, while 150 others from outside Dhaka.
This two-day forum invites citizens, activists, professionals, and everyone passionate about urban transformation to contribute to a collective vision of fairer, more caring, and sustainable Bangladeshi cities and towns.
The Fair Urban Charter 2024 aims to address these disparities, asserting that all citizens deserve a fair, democratic, and inclusive urban environment.
The forum will gather diverse voices from all walks of urban life to discuss the structural reforms needed in the constitution, urban policies, and civic institutions to guarantee the right to the city for all residents of urbanizing Bangladesh.
Through open dialogues and collective visioning, participants will help shape the Fair Urban Charter 2024—a roadmap of aspirations that will be submitted to the Constitutional Reform Committee, representing a powerful collective voice calling for urban justice and equity.
With over 40% of Bangladesh’s population now residing in urban areas, the nation’s urban landscape has become critical to its future. However, many cities across the country remain inaccessible and unequal, where only a few residents enjoy reliable access to essential services, housing, green spaces, and secure public areas.
“In the past 50 years, our dominant urban development approach did not create shared cities for all. We are trying to create a new narrative about urban development where the voices of ordinary people are heard as much as the perspectives of experts and influential thinkers. We need a more embracing narrative for creating fairer Bangladeshi cities,” said Mohammad Azaz.
Tanzil Shafique, co-convenor of Just Urban; said that cities are at the forefront of fighting against climate change. In the global south, climate migrants are moving to the nearest cities. “We also have to consider city planning seriously in order to achieve SDGs. For all these, we need visionary guidance for urbanization for the next 100 years,” he said.
“Participation and accessibility are key for envisioning a fairer city. We hope to include many grassroots voices and people from various sectors and classes in this effort,” said Iftekhar Uddin Ahmed, another co-convenor of Just Urban.
This forum breaks away from traditional, siloed conversations on urban development. While the perspectives of planners, architects, and urban experts remain crucial, the Fair Urban Charter forum also prioritizes input from all urban inhabitants. Attendees will include professionals from various sectors, migrants, indigenous communities, fisherfolk, farmers, and workers, creating a truly polyvocal and grassroots dialogue. Together, this diverse assembly will reimagine urban life in the Bengal Delta from a fresh perspective, blending grassroots insights with ongoing policy debates.
“As we live through multiple crises, we need alternative models for city planning now more than ever. Our cities must prioritize the rights, needs, and dreams of urban dwellers,” says Efadul Huq, co-convenor of Just Urban and fellow, River and Delta Research Centre.
The Fair Urban Charter 2024 Forum is a call to action for all who envision an equitable, sustainable urban landscape in Bangladesh. Join us to discuss critical topics such as housing, transportation, public spaces, urban culture, environmental justice, and more. Together, we can shape a future that serves all city dwellers, ensuring Bangladesh’s cities are inclusive, caring, and accessible to everyone.
