Summary Report on the Building Related Laws in Bangladesh

Md. Naimul Hasan, Advocate, Bangladesh Bar Council.

In Bangladesh, there exist diverse legislations and regulations that pertain to the realm of
construction. A portion of the legislation is solely dedicated to the domain of building
construction, whereas others bear partial relevance to this matter. A brief synopsis of those
laws is provided below:

The Building Construction Act, 1952

The Building Construction Act 1952 provides the legal framework for building construction
and regulates the licensing of architects, engineers, and contractors. The Act mandates that all
building construction projects must obtain approval from the relevant authorities, including
the local government and the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence. Failure to obtain
the necessary approvals can lead to legal action against the property developer or builder.

Building Construction Rules, 1996

Building Construction Rules, 2008
(The above two rules were made based on the Building Construction Act 1952)

The Government Buildings Act, 1899

The Government Buildings Act, 1899, is a historic piece of legislation that outlines the
regulations and standards for the construction of government buildings in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2020

This is the most important piece of legislation regarding building construction in Bangladesh.
The BNBC is a comprehensive set of guidelines that regulate building construction in
Bangladesh. The code covers various aspects of construction, including building design,
structural safety, fire safety, and environmental regulations. All construction projects in
Bangladesh must comply with the BNBC.

Detailed Area Plan (2022-2035) for RAJUK Area

The Dhaka City Corporation provides certain rules building plans and construction inside
Dhaka city.

Real Estate Development and Management Act 2010

Real Estate Development and Management Act 2010 is the authoritative act in regards to
Real Estate Law in Bangladesh. In the act Section 2 explains the registration process of Real
Estate Developers and their due responsibilities.

The Environment Pollution Control Ordinance 1977

Though not exclusively focused on building construction, this regulation sheds light on
protection of the environment with regards to industrial buildings etc.

The Bangladesh Environment conservation Act , 1995

The Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules, 1997
These two laws and rules set out with the standard of environment protection with regards to
construction of both residential, industrial and commercial buildings.

The Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Act, 2003

The Fire Prevention and Extinction Rules, 2014
Section 7 of the Act requires the approval of the Directorate General of Fire Service and Civil
Defence for any structural design or layout of a multi-storied commercial building. Rule 22
of the 2014 Rules supplements the Act by requiring an occupancy certificate to ensure
building compliance with safety requirements.