Dhaka's 2025 Plan Maps Commercial, Industrial, Residential Zones for Construction

The Dhaka Detailed Area Plan 2025, prepared and enforced by RAJUK, regulates land use, zoning, building height and density for the entire Dhaka metropolitan region of approximately 1,528 km² through 2035. All construction requires RAJUK approval to meet Floor Area Ratio limits, maximum storeys and ground coverage rules that vary by road width and zone type. These rules directly affect where new commercial and industrial developments can occur, influencing local job locations and service access for residents.

Zoning categories under the plan include residential, commercial, industrial (light and heavy), mixed-use, agricultural, forest, flood flow and water bodies. Higher densities are permitted along transit corridors and wider roads. The Dhaka Metropolitan Building Construction Regulations 2025 and the Bangladesh National Building Code further require compliance on structural integrity, materials and safety for any approved project.

Effects on Jobs, Services and Infrastructure Access

Commercial and industrial zones determine sites for businesses and factories that provide employment. Mixed-use zones allow combined residential and commercial activity, which can place services closer to housing. Agricultural, forest, flood flow and water body protections limit development in those areas, directing growth toward designated corridors where infrastructure such as roads and transit can support higher activity. Residents therefore encounter different daily travel distances to work or shops depending on the zone boundaries in their neighbourhood.

Compliance data shows 89% of residential buildings meet DAP zoning requirements. The figure falls to 23% for commercial buildings and 40% for industrial buildings, reflecting uneven adherence in sectors tied to employment and services. Developers must still obtain RAJUK approval for every project to align with these zoning, FAR and safety standards.

Next Steps for Project Approvals

Future construction applications will continue to be assessed against the DAP 2025 zoning maps and the linked building regulations. The government states the plan will guide development decisions through 2035, with RAJUK handling enforcement on a case-by-case basis for each proposed site.