Dhaka, Oct. 7 -- Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher on Wednesday said the government has taken an initiative to formulate master plans to ensure planned development of cities and towns across the country, eventually covering the upazila level.

"First, we are working on the metropolitan cities across Bangladesh. Later, we will work on the large cities and ultimately at the upazila level so that a master plan can be prepared for the entire country in the true sense. We will determine through zoning what should be located where," he said.

The minister was addressing the "Smart City Conclave 2026", organised by Bonik Barta at a city hotel, focusing on policy challenges, prospects and measures related to smart housing, sustainab...