Bangladesh

Development of small townships in ancient Bengal by the kings and their representatives at various places had once introduced a group of special types of houses constructed mostly within fort structures. These houses had residence of the owners at the centre and rooms for service and support personnel alongside the boundary wall. Archeological excavations discovered some of such houses in different parts of Bangladesh. Almost all of them were built with mud bricks.

Developments in housing in East Pakistan between 1947 and 1971 may be characterised by a fast growth of urban structures and modern houses in towns with amenities like electricity and running water supply. In spite of urbanisation, the psychology of the people in general did not change much and most people continued to prefer living in individual houses rather than in flats in multistoried buildings. Apartment buildings were becoming a vogue in Dhaka city towards the middle of the 1970s and by 1985, the trend gained a momentum with large-scale acceptability of the concept of living in flat houses under acute shortage of land and in a situation of rapid increase in land prices and the cost of construction.

Urbanisation in its proper sense started in Bengal with establishment of British administrative centres (particularly, the district headquarters) and development of business centres on the banks of large rivers. The process, however, did not bring much change in house structures and their styles. Houses in these newly developed townships used almost the same materials as in the surrounding rural areas and yet, changes started showing up very soon. These houses were constructed usually in rows and blocks and many of them were built in European architectural design. A completely new phenomenon was the growth of slums, especially around industry centres and for the people migrating from rural areas in search of jobs and earning opportunities. Buildings in some areas adopted the designs of Muslim architecture and in many places, the influence of typical Indian structures of the Mughal period could be seen in abundance.

Until 1951, Bangladesh was almost completely a rural-agrarian country with 95.67 percent of the population living in rural areas and only 4.33 percent in urban areas.

Table shows the urbanization pattern in Bangladesh. The level of urbanization was extremely low in 1951 with only 4.33% of the total population living in urban areas. It has increased gradually to 5.19% in 1961 and then very rapidly to 8.78% in 1974, 15.54% in 1981, 20.15% in 1991 and 23.39% in 2001 (BBS, 1991 and BBS, 2001). A recent study by World Bank has estimated that about 40% of the total population in Bangladesh will be living in urban area in Bangladesh by 2025 (ADB, 2000).

Urban Population Density in Bangladesh

Urban population density in Bangladesh was 2179 persons/sq.km in 1991 and the present density is estimated at approximately 3008 persons/sq.km. Population density of Dhaka megacity was found to be 4795 persons/sq.km in 1991 and the present density is estimated at approximately 8573 persons/sq.km. However, the population density of DCC area is more than three times of the megacity area, as in 1991 it was 15333 persons/sq.km against estimated present density of 18055 persons/sq.km. With limited availability of flood-free land, further
densification of population along with haphazard encroachment of peripheral land of Dhaka as well as in urban areas of Bangladesh seems inevitable.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh is the primate city of the country as its share of national urban population was 25% in 1981, 31% in 1991 and 34% in 2001 respectively. Dhaka’s dominance not only in terms of population, but also in terms of economy, trade, commerce, and administration is obvious. In 1991 among the thirty-four mega cities of the world having a population of more than five million, Dhaka ranked twenty-fifth (BBS, 1997) while in 2000 it ranked eleventh and it is predicted to be the world’s fourth largest city by the year 2015 with an estimated population of 21.1 million (Lizin, 2002). The present population of Dhaka mega city is estimated at 11.3 million
while that of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) area at 5.94 million in the year 2004.

The Habitat Conference II on Human Settlements held in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1996 adopted some global action programs and plans regarding development of human settlements situation in member countries. Those global action plans were incorporated in the Habitat Agenda. Bangladesh as a partner country of UNCHS is committed to using indicators for monitoring the Habitat Agenda. The indicators signify the achievement for human settlements situation in the country, which the international community may assess its efforts.

The importance of the urban sector in national development in Bangladesh is somewhat better appreciated today than ever before. The country no longer depends predominantly on the agricultural sector in terms of contribution to GDP, the share of agriculture has come down from 60.10 percent in 1972-73 to only 19.32 percent in 1999-2000,(BBS, 2000, p.278). In terms of providing employment to the labor force, however, the sector’s contribution is still very large. The non-agricultural sector (manufacturing, trades, transportation, construction services etc.) now contributes the major portion. It seems that the importance of the traditional rural sector has declined while that of the urban sector has gone up.

The urban sector’s contribution to GDP has increased from a low of 25 percent in 1972-73, to over 42.3 percent in 1989-99. With a significantly higher growth rate(8.3percent) than the economy as a whole (5.2 percent) (ADB, 2000, p.1), the urban sector contribution to GDP has probably reached nearly 45 percent in the 1st. Year of the 21st century.

That urbanization contributes positively to a national economy is a well-established fact. It also contributes significantly to individual households’ income. Average household income in urban areas was found to be nearly double that of rural areas in 1999 (on an average Tk.6256 in urban and Tk.3855 in rural areas). It is however, also true that while average income in urban areas is higher than rural income, inequality is also higher in urban areas, and that such inequality is getting worse in urban than rural areas.

On a regional average it is apparent that regions (former districts) with higher level of urbanization (or with presence of a major metropolitan center), enjoy higher average household income. Dhaka, the most urbanized region, had the highest average household income (Tk.7592/month) followed by Chittagong (Tk. 6460), in 1999, when Bangladesh average was Tk.4813 (Ahmed, 2000). The low average incomes were found generally in the low urbanized regions (like Faridpur, Jamalpur, Patuakhali, or Bogra).

Bangladesh although still at a low level of urbanization (25 percent), its total urban population is a huge one (30 million). In fact, it is one of the largest urban populations in the world. This population has recorded very rapid growth during the last three decades (nearly 7 percent annually), and continues to grow rapidly (at over 5 percent annually). The growth rate to decline to some extent but will still be higher than 3 percent 2020 when the urbanization level would rise to nearly 40 percent and the total urban population to over 70 million. By 2035 Bangladesh will statistically become an urbanized country, with more than 50 percent of its population being urban. This situation may even happen earlier, give certain shifts in the economy and technology-taking place.

At the present time, urbanization in Bangladesh is characterized by significant regional/ spatial variations. Dhaka region (former Dhaka District) is more than 50 percent urban, with a few other regions recording 25-40 percent, while a number of regions are way below the average of 25 percent. Even as low as 15 percent Dhaka has become only a mega city in term of population (above 10 million) .It has earned a grossly obvious primacy status, both population wise and function. The gravitational pull of this huge mass on the rest of the country is enormous urban in the present laissez-faire scenario. The advantages of this agglomeration have been almost fully derived while the disadvantages and negative impacts are now being experienced.

Long term strategic plans have been prepared for three of the largest cites in the country through consultations with key partners including the people. The strategic plans strive, among other things, sustainable development of the cities with due consideration to environmental aspects. Detail plans for some areas of Dhaka are still going on, again with active participation of the communities involved. The Government has enacted laws to make Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) imperative for major development projects including high rise building construction and has prepared Environmental Guidelines. Otherwise, no change has been made in legislation to support sustainable development planning, though existing laws neither hamper nor preclude such planning. Recently the Government has enacted laws not to fill up any water body, open space or field for building construction.

As for Dhaka City, the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (1995) has been prepared after consultations with key partners of development. Implementation of the plan is done through the Capital Development Authority (RAJUK) that has the authority to deny permission to build to any prospective developer if the proposed development violates the provisions of the DMDP. Clearance from the Department of Environment and utilities agencies are required for certain types of projects. The Detail Area Plans for certain areas of Dhaka are now being prepared with active participation from the respective communities.

Bangladesh has been actively involved in the program taken up by the UNCHS (Habitat) or in other words, those of its member states, have gained special momentum. However, it has not been ‘roses all the way’ for the fellow combatants under the banner of UNCHS (Habitat). Yet Bangladesh has remained ardently committed to the cause of UNCHS (Habitat).In Bangladesh, poor people deserve the attention of UNCHS (Habitat) and through it, wider international cooperation. Without such co-operation, the poor cannot be ensured adequate justice and equality. Therefore, the cause of UNCHS (Habitat) will not triumph unless Bangladesh, along with other developing countries, gets proper assistance.
 

Source: Bangladesh National Report:
Progress of implementation of the Habitat Agenda (1996-2001)
Unlocking the Potential, National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction (PRSP)
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/
Country Paper Bangladesh: Saarc Workshop On Solid Waste Management
Wasteconcern, DOE, ITN-BUET
People's Report:2002-2003: Unnayan Shamannay