^^ That would be quite something as far as the skyline goes. Though I never heard / read of it before...will be happy to see it realized.

I think Islami Bank is probably the most prominent Bank in BD now, if anyone has the resources to built a 50+ stories building it would probably be them.

Not to take away from the value of the posts above but production of cement isn't exactly complicated. I couldn't fathom for the life of me why we need foreign 'technology' to produce cement.

And re: Tejgaon Airport the best idea is to turn it into a heliport with the parade ground it already is.

Even if no "foreign technology" is needed, I think it is perhaps a marketing ploy. Since folks in Bangladesh are so hung up in all things "foreign/imported".

With the metropolis expanding north, Tejgoan airport has become a road transport handicap. The city planners should quit designating it as an operational airfield and find some useful purpose. Perhaps even build some (connecting) roads through that space.

Mirza, do you know anything about proposed Islami Bank (IBBL) HQ? As far I know they had a plan for 50 plus story tower just behind Bangladesh bank tower. I called IBBL once about it and they confirmed the plan but said govt has been dragging feet and not issuing necessary permit.

It would be nice to get some info or render if they have any?

Islami Bank already has a newly built head office. There is no reason for them to build another one.

http://www.mirakhter.net/images/ib.jpg

Islami Bank already has a newly built head office. There is no reason for them to build another one.

Well banks can have more than one office building. This can be a real estate investment as well...they keep a few floors for themselves and rent out the rest. But of course I have heard nothing on this particular project...and while there is plenty of land behind Bangladesh Bank, still it seems a somewhat odd place to build such an important building.

^^Well they are among the most successful banks, if not the most successful bank in BD. So, they can have more than two buildings, not just one :)

With the metropolis expanding north, Tejgoan airport has become a road transport handicap. The city planners should quit designating it as an operational airfield and find some useful purpose. Perhaps even build some (connecting) roads through that space.

Bhai Towheed,

There is a perfect example of how to convert an old airbase in Tustin, CA.

They took this large 450 acres air base (about Tejgaon size) and turned it into a planned residential community complete with shopping areas, schools and parks. Village style living is the new trend in most US suburbs, especially in California. Most neighborhoods in suburban Los Angeles have a central park area with heavily landscaped trails and parks.

Details here (http://www.tustinlegacy.com//images/Tustin/docs/DDAwithMasterDeveloperforTustinLegacy.pdf) in this PPT file (warning -- large file, not for dialup connections). Just google 'Tustin legacy'.

Bhai Towheed,

There is a perfect example of how to convert an old airbase in Tustin, CA.

They took this large 450 acres air base (about Tejgaon size) and turned it into a planned residential community complete with shopping areas, schools and parks. Village style living is the new trend in most US suburbs, especially in California. Most neighborhoods in suburban Los Angeles have a central park area with heavily landscaped trails and parks.

Details here (http://www.tustinlegacy.com//images/Tustin/docs/DDAwithMasterDeveloperforTustinLegacy.pdf) in this PPT file (warning -- large file, not for dialup connections). Just google 'Tustin legacy'.

An excellent idea. Why don't you do a write up and send it to some of Dhaka newspapers? By the way, how many phases are complete? Have you been by?

Islami Bank already has a newly built head office. There is no reason for them to build another one.


Islami Bank has grown so much that current building can not accomodate their needs. They are the largest PCB (private commercial bank) in Bangladesh. Besides, the current office is in very narrow space, there is hardly any space.

Well banks can have more than one office building. This can be a real estate investment as well...they keep a few floors for themselves and rent out the rest. But of course I have heard nothing on this particular project...and while there is plenty of land behind Bangladesh Bank, still it seems a somewhat odd place to build such an important building.

You are right, besides their own use some of the space would be used for renting/leasing office space. I asked them about the location as well and their answer was they could not get that bigger parcel of land anywhere in Motijheel or any other prime location. I dont know if you are aware that land is still a 'doba" and begging for some sort of development. I assume they have had that land many years ago when price was much cheaper.

Anyway hope we get some more info.

^^ Yes I have been to the spot...last time I was in BD which was during Korbani Eid we bought ours from a "hat" right next to Bangladesh Bank.

By the way, how many phases are complete? Have you been by?

I don't pass that way often (too far from where I live) but the relatives I have living over there say that the shopping center is open and about half of the houses are built. The whole area is divvied up into middle-income (single family houses) neighborhoods and lower income dwellings (apartments and condos). There is a strong demarcation between the neighborhoods, as befits the completely different types of people living in each.

However -- you have to remember that this is right next to Irvine -- the planned city of fame with avg. household yearly incomes of $180,000 plus. So even townhomes will be priced in the low 600,000's. Without getting too off topic -- what I want to impress on Dhaka developers (especially top-tier ones like Navana and Concord) is that this is no less dense of a living pattern similar to Baridhara, Uttara etc. yet done innovatively and with a lot more style. On top of that -- the houses are probably not built any more expensively compared to luxurious Dhaka houses.

I think you can see this US condo-density pattern slowly take root in Bangkok and Jakarta in the outlying areas and in Dhaka suburbs e.g. developments in Demra or Kaliakoir -- one could build independent self-sufficient neighborhoods complete with winding roads and not in the same geometric style. The point of all this is -- we're building for posterity so let's do it with a little bit more panache, more flair and more creativity. Maybe these will seem sky-high goals to some but inspiration is (mostly) free :)

Here's another recent development (http://www.rental-living.com/Communities/The-Village-at-Irvine-Spectrum-Center/Photo-Gallery/) for high-achiever singles (within ten miles of Tustin)...

No idea about the 50 storey building you guys are talking about,however,its great to hear about plans of building that.

Anyways,remember that talk about having skylines connected,Heres more images to help you understand it.

Connecting Skylines

Red Dots indicate Proposed/Under-construction Highrise towers

Kawranbazar Eskaton Area

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/mirzazeehan18/BanglamotorEskatonKawranbazararea2.jpg

Take the road going left from the intersection (Panthopath)

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/mirzazeehan18/Panthopathgoogleearth.jpg

Take the road going right from Eskaton (moghbazar)

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/mirzazeehan18/MoghbazarBailyRoadarea.jpg

About 80 Highrise Projects are pointed out here in this google earth image of one part of Dhaka.All red dots indicate Proposed/Underconstruction highrises that are expected to be completed within 2-3 years.58 of these buildings are already underconstruction.Only 17 of these 80 buildings are to beResidential highrises while the rest will be Commercial Towers..

Note:the image excludes many other important commercial areas of Dhaka that are also experiencing the same wave of construction boom

Dhaka Rising

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/mirzazeehan18/VirtualdhakaoftheFuture2-2.jpg

^^ Awesome graphics mirzazeehan, must have taken sometime to complete that.

Here's another recent development (http://www.rental-living.com/Communities/The-Village-at-Irvine-Spectrum-Center/Photo-Gallery/) for high-achiever singles (within ten miles of Tustin)...

The place looks so elegant, serene and peaceful.

Yes, I agree, but it will be a real long time, perhaps not even in my life time, before such planned neighborhoods crop up around Dhaka, as suburbs of Dhaka. At present Dhaka appears more like the big apple.

At present Dhaka appears more the big apple

True :)

True :)

No doubt about that

Your graphics are always cool Mirza...the latest one with the five photos stiched together adds yet another dimension. Thanks for all the time you give for these.

About 80 Highrise Projects are pointed out here in this google earth image of one part of Dhaka.All red dots indicate Proposed/Underconstruction highrises that are expected to be completed within 2-3 years.58 of these buildings are already underconstruction.Only 17 of these 80 buildings are to beResidential highrises while the rest will be Commercial Towers..

Note:the image excludes many other important commercial areas of Dhaka that are also experiencing the same wave of construction boom

Dhaka Rising

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/mirzazeehan18/VirtualdhakaoftheFuture2-2.jpg

its really nice to see that u have presented us with a visual presentation about what dhaka's skyline will look like in 2-3 years. thanks.

Very nice. Thank you, Sayem. I haven't Googled in a while.

its really nice to see that u have presented us with a visual presentation about what dhaka's skyline will look like in 2-3 years. thanks.

Yes. Wow! So, in about couple of years Dhaka shall have more high rise buildings than any medium sized city in the US. When will the western media stop using the cliched labels for Bangladesh ... most impoverished, poorest? Someone needs to organize an all inclusive fully paid-for junket to Dhaka for all these know-it-all(s) to open their collective eyes!

thanks for all your comments guys.

^^Dhaka already has many more high rise buildings than many highly developed western European countries. Dhaka looks more gracious than many European cities too. But Bangladesh in general has a seriously low image. It doesn't take much to destroy image, but it takes a lot to build and maintain one. However, Bangladesh does have a very large population living in serious poverty.

Forums like this one do help to change the image, although not much, but a little bit. And that's why my fellow countrymen and I are here to contribute our 2 cents. :cheers:

Rupayan forays outside Dhaka, builds township in Narayanganj

Major realtor Rupayan has started building a big township in Narayanganj as it sees growing opportunities in cities other than the capital Dhaka, an official said Sunday.

The company would build at least 800 flats in the 64-bigha town-ship targeting middle-income people and expatriates, marketing manager of the company Mahmudul Haque Faisal said.

"We have already completed 30 per cent of the work. At least 22 buildings have already been built and we hope to start handover by September this year," he said.

"The township has got tremendous response from the buyers since it has shopping mall, clinics, play ground, mosque etc," he added.

The company said the flats would range from 700 square feet to 900 sft, with the price starting from Tk 2.00 million a flat.

Buyers can buy flats on a 50 per cent down-payment, he said, adding all the major banks would finance the rest of the amount.

The township at Bhuigarh, Narayanganj is Rupayan's first foray outside the capital Dhaka. Since its inception in 1984, the company has already sold 1800 flats only in the capital.

Faisal said the company went outside the capital, as there are now growing demand for flats in some of the major district towns and cities across the country.

"Expatriates who migrated from district towns are especially interested to buy apartments in their hometowns. Besides, there are now economic boom in the towns adjacent to the capital Dhaka," he said.

Narayanganj is situated just 20 kilometres south of Dhaka and home to the country's some of the biggest garment factories. It's river port is also a major distribution center for consumer products.

Everyday, around 200,000 people travel to Dhaka to attend their jobs and businesses.

Rupayan has also plan to build another small township in Comilla by 2009. Comilla is home to a major export processing zone.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=28285

About 80 Highrise Projects are pointed out here in this google earth image of one part of Dhaka.All red dots indicate Proposed/Underconstruction highrises that are expected to be completed within 2-3 years.58 of these buildings are already underconstruction.Only 17 of these 80 buildings are to beResidential highrises while the rest will be Commercial Towers..

Note:the image excludes many other important commercial areas of Dhaka that are also experiencing the same wave of construction boom

Dhaka Rising

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/mirzazeehan18/VirtualdhakaoftheFuture2-2.jpg

Clearsky is right,Dhaka already has alot more high rises and glass towers than many richer cities.Someimes I look at the image above and ask myself...if this is the amount of change to come in 2 years....then what will the city look like after 8-10 years?:cheers:

Rupayan forays outside Dhaka, builds township in Narayanganj

Major realtor Rupayan has started building a big township in Narayanganj as it sees growing opportunities in cities other than the capital Dhaka, an official said Sunday.

The company would build at least 800 flats in the 64-bigha town-ship targeting middle-income people and expatriates, marketing manager of the company Mahmudul Haque Faisal said.

"We have already completed 30 per cent of the work. At least 22 buildings have already been built and we hope to start handover by September this year," he said.

"The township has got tremendous response from the buyers since it has shopping mall, clinics, play ground, mosque etc," he added.

The company said the flats would range from 700 square feet to 900 sft, with the price starting from Tk 2.00 million a flat.

Buyers can buy flats on a 50 per cent down-payment, he said, adding all the major banks would finance the rest of the amount.

The township at Bhuigarh, Narayanganj is Rupayan's first foray outside the capital Dhaka. Since its inception in 1984, the company has already sold 1800 flats only in the capital.

Faisal said the company went outside the capital, as there are now growing demand for flats in some of the major district towns and cities across the country.

"Expatriates who migrated from district towns are especially interested to buy apartments in their hometowns. Besides, there are now economic boom in the towns adjacent to the capital Dhaka," he said.

Narayanganj is situated just 20 kilometres south of Dhaka and home to the country's some of the biggest garment factories. It's river port is also a major distribution center for consumer products.

Everyday, around 200,000 people travel to Dhaka to attend their jobs and businesses.

Rupayan has also plan to build another small township in Comilla by 2009. Comilla is home to a major export processing zone.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=28285

50% down payment? With ill gotten wealth drying up (hopefully), home financing, especially for first time buyer and for primary dwelling, has to be made lot more affordable if builders/realtors want to sell their flats. The banks should take the initiative especially for low/middle income and primary dwelling buyers and offer affordable financing.

50% down payment? With ill gotten wealth drying up (hopefully), home financing, especially for first time buyer and for primary dwelling, has to be made lot more affordable if builders/realtors want to sell their flats. The banks should take the initiative especially for low/middle income and primary dwelling buyers and offer affordable financing.

drying up?You have seriously mistaken.Whats hiding behind concrete shelters and are not exposed to the sun can never dry up...just temporarily not available I would say.How much money has the govt been able to recover?2000 cr at best?Thats prolly just a fraction of the total money thats undeclared.The developers must have taken that into account ..or else why would they be still announcing all the luxury towers and residences.As for this project,I think downpayment % should come down anyway.

drying up?You have seriously mistaken.Whats hiding behind concrete shelters and are not exposed to the sun can never dry up...just temporarily not available I would say.How much money has the govt been able to recover?2000 cr at best?Thats prolly just a fraction of the total money thats undeclared.The developers must have taken that into account ..or else why would they be still announcing all the luxury towers and residences.As for this project,I think downpayment % should come down anyway.

Well, that is what we hope, don't we? Post CTG government, if an honest one, should make it very difficult for people to use their illegitimate funds to make major purchases. But then, as you state, things shall probably swing back to the good old (bad) days!

drying up?You have seriously mistaken.Whats hiding behind concrete shelters and are not exposed to the sun can never dry up...just temporarily not available I would say.How much money has the govt been able to recover?2000 cr at best?Thats prolly just a fraction of the total money thats undeclared.The developers must have taken that into account ..or else why would they be still announcing all the luxury towers and residences.As for this project,I think downpayment % should come down anyway.

We don't want the down payment to come down too much; so else our own subprime crisis will happen. 20% down payment should be the target for mortgage companies.

2 million taka or 20 lakh taka for an unlivable 700 square feet apt is too much. On top of that, it's outside of Dhaka.

2 million taka or 20 lakh taka for an unlivable 700 square feet apt is too much. On top of that, it's outside of Dhaka.

And the unbelievable thing is that there is still a huge demand for a pretty expansive small place.

And the unbelievable think is that there is still a huge demand for a pretty expansive small place.

You think so? Even in Narayanganj? Only time will tell.

We don't want the down payment to come down too much; so else our own subprime crisis will happen. 20% down payment should be the target for mortgage companies.

That's what it used to be here (US) before the age of creative financing and greedy financiers. On the flip side, financing is very difficult to come by in Bnagladesh. Real estate financing (institutions) should develop keeping pace with the building boom in Bangladesh.

Does anyone have any updates on the future of Doreen Tower? The structure of the building itself seems to be ready, but nothing seems to have been done for months. What are the authorities planning on doing with it?

I have created a new Dhaka Projects - Part 2 thread. Please use http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=602091 from now on to post news and photos of all the modern Dhaka projects.