RAJUK Portal
The Role of RAJUK in
Urban Development
RAJUK (Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha) serves as the primary development authority for the Dhaka metropolitan area. Its core responsibilities center on ensuring that the city expands in a structured, safe, and sustainable manner through several key regulatory functions:
Urban
Planning
Regulating city expansion, land usage classifications, and infrastructure developments.
Building
Approval
Reviewing all architectural and structural submissions before officially granting construction permits.
FAR and Density Control
Actively managing the intensity of land use through Floor Area Ratio (FAR) caps and building height limitations.
Development Compliance
Ensuring that every project strictly adheres to the BNBC 2020 national environmental regulations, and mandatory setback standards.
The RAJUK Approval Workflow
Every compliant real estate project verified under the Nexform platform must successfully navigate a structured, five-stage approval process managed by a lead architect:
Stage -01
Land Audit and Verification
Every structure must follow approved engineering calculations, seismic resistance standards, and certified structural design practices.
Stage -02
Architectural & Technical Design Submission
Registered architects and structural engineers prepare detailed drawings and engineering calculations tailored strictly to meet BNBC 2020 and RAJUK benchmarks.
Stage -03
Authority Review and Official Approval
RAJUK evaluates all technical submissions for zoning compliance, FAR allocations, and general design feasibility before issuing an official building permit.
Stage -04
Construction Compliance Monitoring
During the building execution phase, projects must follow registered construction practices under rigorous professional oversight to ensure ongoing adherence to the approved plans.
Stage -05
Occupancy Certificate and Handover
Before residents or investors can take possession, the project must be issued an official Occupancy Certificate and utility clearances from RAJUK following a final inspection.
FAR and Zoning Regulations
RAJUK utilizes Floor Area Ratio (FAR) metrics to rigidly control urban density based on road widths, total plot size, and regional classifications. Dhaka residential zones typically allow a FAR ranging from 2.0 to 5.0.
Residential Zones
Elite areas like Gulshan and Banani are subject to strict residential zoning boundaries with rigorous setback enforcement and low-to-medium density controls.
Commercial Zones
Central business districts such as Motijheel and Dilkusha accommodate higher FAR parameters and high-rise developments, provided they offer dedicated parking and robust structural safety systems.
Mixed-Use Zones
Neighborhoods such as Mirpur and Mohammadpur support integrated developments that harmoniously combine retail operations and residential functions.
Planned Townships
Modern macro-developments like Purbachal New Town are exclusively governed by environmentally focused urban planning framework regulations and advanced infrastructure standards.
Building Planning and
Setback Standards
Front Setbacks
The minimum front clearance requirement varies progressively based on the adjacent road width (ranging from a minimum of 10 feet for roads ≤ 20 feet up to 20 feet for roads ≥ 60 feet) to guarantee structured urban spacing.
Side and Rear Setbacks
Mandatory open clearance margins must be continuously maintained on the sides and rear of the property in strict accordance with BNBC Table 3.1.2. No physical construction is permitted within these setback margins.
Open Space Requirements
At least 15% of the total plot area must be preserved as completely open or landscaped green space to minimize the urban heat island effect and support environmental balance.
Parking Compliance
High-density residential and commercial projects must incorporate dedicated parking systems directly proportional to the project scale and total occupant load.
Mandatory Documentation Checklist
To ensure that a real estate asset is legally verified and fully eligible for RAJUK plan submission, developers must produce the following complete records:
Land Records (Porcha)
Validated CS, SA, RS, and BS Khatian records alongside official Mouza map boundary verification.
Ownership Integrity Proof
Official Mutation (Namjari) documents indicating updated land revenue records and a clear Encumbrance Certificate proving no existing mortgages or liens exist via the Sub-Registry Office.
Technical Engineering Reports
Fully certified structural blueprints, an official geotechnical soil investigation (bore log) report for structures over 3 floors, and utility planning designs signed by IEB-approved professionals.
Environmental Clearances
Mandatory clearance documents issued by the Department of Environment (DOE) if a project is located near peripheral rivers, wetlands, or designated Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA).
Common Compliance
Violations to Avoid
Failure to fully comply with RAJUK rules and BNBC frameworks results in swift legal penalties, project suspension, or wholesale clearance cancellation:
