COMPLIANCES FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT IN BANGLADESH: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Real estate development is a complex and challenging process that involves various aspects such as land acquisition, design, construction, and management. In order to ensure the quality, safety, and sustainability of the built environment, real estate developers in Bangladesh have to comply with various government rules and regulations. This article will give you a neat idea of the major compliances that real estate developers have to follow in Bangladesh.

BNBC Rules and Regulations

BNBC (Bangladesh National Building Code), is a set of guidelines for proper construction practices in Bangladesh. The BNBC was first published in 1993 and revised in 2017, covering various topics such as structural design, fire safety, environmental laws, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems, accessibility, and disaster management. The BNBC is meant to be applied by professionals working with construction projects, such as architects, engineers, contractors, and inspectors. The BNBC aims to secure the health, safety, and well-being of the occupants and users of buildings by ensuring proper standards in the construction and design of buildings. 

Real estate developers in Bangladesh have to follow the BNBC rules and regulations when they plan, design, construct, and maintain their projects. They have to obtain the necessary approvals and permits from the relevant authorities before starting any construction work. They also have to ensure that their projects comply with the BNBC requirements in terms of materials, methods, quality control, testing, inspection, and certification. Any violation of the BNBC rules and regulations may result in legal actions, penalties, or cancellation of the project.

Here are just some of the mandates set by BNBC that developers are required to follow:

• The BNBC requires that the structural design of buildings should be based on the principles of limit state design and should follow the relevant codes and standards.
• The BNBC specifies the minimum standards for fire safety of buildings, such as fire resistance rating, fire alarm system, fire extinguisher, fire exit, fire hydrant, sprinkler system, etc. The BNBC also classifies buildings into different fire zones based on their occupancy and location.
• The BNBC provides guidelines for energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings, such as thermal insulation, solar water heating, rainwater harvesting, waste management, green building rating system, etc.
• The BNBC mandates that all buildings should have adequate ventilation, lighting and sanitation facilities for the health and comfort of the occupants. The BNBC also prescribes the minimum dimensions of habitable and non-habitable rooms, kitchen, bathroom and toilet, stairway, etc.

Some of the topics that the revised BNBC 2017 covers are the roles and responsibilities of local authorities, updated maps of seismic zones and wind speeds, and the qualifications of professionals. It also introduces new chapters on topics such as energy efficiency and sustainability, rainwater management, maintenance, steel-concrete structures, bamboo structures, and universal accessibility.