If you own or manage a building in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, or Niketan, you’ve likely heard about RAJUK’s latest directive: buildings in these areas are now required to install septic tanks, soak wells, and — in some cases — full sewage treatment plants (STPs). This isn’t a proposal or a future plan. It’s a live enforcement push, reported by Dhaka Tribune on July 31, 2026, and it’s already generating real debate among property owners, planners, and RAJUK itself.
Here’s what’s actually happening, why now, and what it means practically if you own property in one of these areas.
What RAJUK is requiring
Under the 2025 Building Construction Rules (Dhaka Imarat Nirman Bidhimala 2025), RAJUK’s Chief Town Planner has confirmed that functional sewage treatment plants (STPs) are mandatory for buildings even in areas already served by sewer lines, and that full STPs are required in areas where sewerage coverage is inadequate. RAJUK’s stated reason is straightforward: stop untreated wastewater from reaching Gulshan Lake and the groundwater beneath these neighborhoods.
Why this is happening now
The short version: Dhaka’s centralized sewerage network still doesn’t reach most of the city. The Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant — a Tk 3,482 crore facility inaugurated in 2023 and intended to anchor Dhaka’s modern wastewater system — is not yet connected to large parts of the capital, including much of Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara. Until that network expands, RAJUK’s position is that decentralized, building-level treatment is the only practical way to stop untreated sewage from reaching the lake and drains in the meantime.
The controversy — and why it’s fair to understand both sides
This directive hasn’t landed quietly. Many property owners point out, reasonably, that their buildings were originally approved by RAJUK, connected to utilities, and have paid sewerage charges to Dhaka WASA for years — and are now being asked to retrofit expensive sanitation systems, sometimes requiring structural modifications, for gaps in planning that predate their ownership. Urban planners such as Adil Mohammed Khan (Institute for Planning and Development) and architect Iqbal Habib have publicly argued that Dhaka’s sanitation problem can’t be solved “building by building,” and that it needs coordinated citywide infrastructure investment rather than being pushed onto individual owners. RAJUK’s counter-position is that waiting for the sewerage network to catch up isn’t an option while Gulshan Lake continues to deteriorate. Both points are legitimate — but regardless of how that policy debate resolves, the compliance requirement is active now, and buildings in these four areas are the ones being checked first.
What this likely means in practice
- Septic tanks and soak wells are now essentially non-negotiable, even for buildings already connected to sewer lines.
- Full STPs are being required specifically where existing sewerage coverage doesn’t adequately serve the building — which, given how much of Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara sits outside effective sewer coverage, is a large share of properties.
- Enforcement is being framed around occupancy certification and ongoing compliance checks, not just new construction — meaning existing, already-approved buildings are in scope, not just new projects. [Internal link → RAJUK STP Requirement 2025: Rules for 5-Katha Plots]
What building owners should do now, not later
1. Get a technical assessment of your current system. Find out whether your existing septic arrangement meets the new capacity and design requirements, or whether you need a step up to a full STP.
2. Think about retrofit constraints early. Most buildings in these areas were designed before STP requirements existed, which means space is the real constraint — not budget. A traditional RCC tank often needs excavation and structural work that’s difficult or impossible in an already-occupied building.
3. Look at compact, modular options. This is exactly where prefabricated FRP systems like Johkasou have a real advantage over conventional STPs: they’re factory-built, installed in a fraction of the time, and can fit into basements, rooftops, or parking-area corners without major structural redesign. [Internal link → Johkasou vs Traditional STP post]
4. Don’t wait for enforcement to reach your specific building. Given the pace of this rollout, treating this as optional is a riskier bet than getting ahead of it — retrofitting under time pressure, after a notice, almost always costs more than planning it now.
Is this limited to these four areas?
For now, the directive is specifically targeting Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan. But it sits inside the broader Detailed Area Plan (DAP) 2022–2035 and the 2025 Building Construction Rules, which apply more widely across Dhaka. If your building is elsewhere in the city, it’s reasonable to expect similar requirements to expand outward over time rather than stay confined to these four neighborhoods.
If you own a building in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, or Niketan, Daiki Axis Bangladesh can assess your current septic and drainage setup, tell you plainly whether you’re likely to need a full STP under the current rules, and — if you do — design a compact, retrofit-friendly solution that avoids tearing up your building. Contact us for a compliance assessment.
Quick FAQ
Does this directive apply outside Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan?
As reported, it’s currently targeted at these four areas specifically, tied to Gulshan Lake pollution. But it operates under the same 2025 Building Construction Rules and DAP 2022–2035 framework that applies more broadly across Dhaka, so treating it as isolated to these neighborhoods would be a risky assumption for owners elsewhere in the city.
My building already has a septic tank — does that satisfy the requirement?
Not automatically. RAJUK’s stated position is that septic tanks and soak wells must meet current design and capacity standards, and that a full STP is required specifically where existing sewerage coverage is inadequate — which describes much of Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara. An older or undersized septic tank likely won’t meet the current bar; a technical assessment is the only way to know for sure.
What are the actual penalties for non-compliance?
Enforcement details continue to evolve, and RAJUK has linked compliance to building approvals and occupancy certification. Given the direction of enforcement, it’s more practical to plan for compliance proactively than to wait and find out what the penalty looks like in practice.
This post reflects RAJUK’s directive as reported as of August 2026. Requirements can be updated by RAJUK; confirm current status for your specific plot before making final decisions.