Commerce Reporter:
Bangladesh ArchSummit 2026 opens in Dhaka, bringing together city leaders, architects, and policymakers to discuss collaboration to build more inclusive, resilient, and accessible cities. Organised by the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), the four-day summit began on 8 October at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre in Agargaon and continues until today (11 October), according to the press release. The annual gathering, held under the theme “Co-Creating Cities for All”, includes architects, educators, professionals, industry representatives, students and others involved in shaping the built environment. Discussions cover urban growth, mobility, housing, climate resilience, infrastructure, public spaces, environmental sustainability, heritage conservation, governance and equitable access to urban opportunities. A key feature is the “Mayors’ Talks”, which bring city leaders and senior urban administrators into direct dialogue with architects and other professionals. International participants include Vraie Cally Balthazaar, mayor of Colombo Municipal Council in Sri Lanka; Majed Jamal Amin Abdulfattah, deputy mayor of Ramallah in Palestine; and Laxmi Maharjan, deputy mayor of Mahalaxmi Municipality in Lalitpur, Nepal. Senior representatives from Bangladesh’s urban institutions and city corporations are also participating, including administrators of the Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barishal, Cumilla, and Khulna city corporations, and the mayor of Chattogram City Corporation. Other participants include the chairpersons of Rajuk and the development authorities of Chattogram, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Cumilla. The programme also features the International Conference on Architectural Education 2026, themed “Rethinking Architectural Education for Future Practice”. Other events include “Architects’ Talks”, “Emerging Voices of Contemporary Architecture in Bangladesh”, IAB Build-Expo, “Build Talks”, “ACYA Talks”, student competitions and networking sessions.
