Dhaka, Bangladesh: unpacking challenges and reflecting on unjust transitions

Ahmed, Sohel; Nahiduzzaman, Kh Md; Hasan, Musleh Uddin

doi:10.1016/j.cities.2017.11.012

Cited by 35 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Estimates from 2015 suggest that over 17.6 million people inhabit the city's 1528 km 2 area. That population is expected to grow to nearly 26 million by 2035 [52]. For this study, we considered the spatial extent of the Dhaka City Corporation, which has a total area of approximately 134 km 2 and an average population density of 1110 people/km 2 .…”

Section: Case Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Noncommunicable Diseases, Park Prescriptions, and Urban Green Space Use Patterns in a Global South Context: The Case of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Labib

Shuvo

Browning

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Urban green space use is often associated with improved physical and mental health and lower noncommunicable disease (NCDs) burdens. Factors that influence green space visits have been documented in cities of the Global North, but evidence of urban green space use patterns for cities in the Global South is scarce. The aim of this study is to investigate factors influencing urban green space use patterns in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a megacity of the Global South, with a particular focus on how poor health condition and healthcare professionals’ prescriptions to exercise outdoors (park prescriptions—ParkRx) impact the green space use of middle-aged adults. We collected green space characteristics and use factors (i.e., availability, accessibility, attractiveness, and attachment), health condition, ParkRx, and urban green space use intensity (i.e., frequency and duration) via a self-reported questionnaire from 169 middle-aged residents of Dhaka. We used multivariate modeling to estimate the association of green space characteristics, health condition, and ParkRx with use intensity. We further applied a mediation analysis to determine the influence of ParkRx on the relationship between residents’ poor health conditions and use intensity. We found that green space availability and accessibility did not significantly influence use intensity, but attractiveness was negatively associated with use intensity. Green space use intensity was significantly and positively associated with attachment to the green space, poor health condition (i.e., having noncommunicable diseases), and ParkRx. ParkRx significantly mediated the relationship between health condition and use intensity. We observed limited supply, poor access, and low attractiveness when studying the urban green spaces in Dhaka, but these qualities did not affect use intensity, as found in many case studies in the Global North. In contrast, urban green space use intensity in our case study is mostly dependent on poor health condition and park prescriptions.

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Section: Case Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Noncommunicable Diseases, Park Prescriptions, and Urban Green Space Use Patterns in a Global South Context: The Case of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Labib

Shuvo

Browning

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…During post-independence (between 1971and 1990, the migrants accommodated themselves in the vacant land within the already built-up areas and transformed the rural areas rapidly, especially by filling up the ditches, swamps and marshes (Ahmed, Hasan, & Maniruzzaman, 2014;Zinia & McShane, 2018). During this period, slums and squatters mushroomed in different locations of the city (Ahmed, Nahiduzzaman, & Hasan, 2018). The city corporation area expanded in 1981, but the newly defined areas populated rapidly.…”

Section: Urbanization and Spatial Transformationmentioning

confidence: 99%

City Profile: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Roy

Sowgat

Mondal

2019

Environment and Urbanization ASIA

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Despite numerous complex urban challenges, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is rapidly growing in terms of both population and extent. This profile captures that unplanned and spontaneous urbanization of Dhaka, which resulted in haphazard spatial expansion and transformation. Its unstable urban primacy is the result of high concentration of administrative activities, jobs and services in this city. Results of unsustainable growth are reflected in the socio-spatial divisions and high-density urban living. The current urban growth has created a strain on housing, urban services, health and education services and facilities, and they, in turn, are severely damaging the sustainability of the natural and built environment. The city requires policies for decentralisation of activities rather than pro-growth planning. An integrated national and local policy agenda and an active city government are crucial for tackling the multidimensional crisis of Dhaka.

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“…Located in a strategically central geographical position, Dhaka became the social, cultural, economic, and political capital of Bangladesh (Corner & Dewan, 2014) and the home of approximately over 10 percent of the nation’s population (Rahman, Hasssan, Bahauddin, Ratul, & Bhuiyan, 2017). The city is also the most progressive industrial hub and accommodates the largest number of garment and knitwear factories, which are now the largest source of the nation’s foreign currency earnings (Ahmed, Nahiduzzaman, & Hasab, 2018).…”

Section: Urban Reality In the Megacity Of Dhakamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dhaka’s urban development and planning efforts almost never considered the rural–urban migration and the reasons behind that process. Currently, Dhaka is experiencing the consequences of unplanned laissez faire urbanization (The World Bank, 2007) and offering livelihood opportunities to its millions of populations at the same time (Ahmed et al, 2018). Due to unpleasant urban experiences with inadequate services and opportunities, people in the city are increasingly vulnerable to various forms of social tensions and potential conflicts (Jahan, 2012; Ullah, 2004).…”

Section: Urban Reality In the Megacity Of Dhakamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Poor governance and lack of transparency at the organizational and governmental levels contribute to these processes as well. Since a large share of the urban population live in slums or other forms of informal settlements, urban sustainability will not be achieved until current planning practices reorient their approach to include equity and social justice objectives (Ahmed et al, 2018). In addition, sometimes slum dwellers, who are mostly rural–urban migrants, face “unwelcoming” experiences in the city, because existing urban dwellers consider these migrants as the reason for further burdens and stresses on the existing economy and infrastructural facilities (Hackenbroch & Hossain, 2012), which is not always true.…”

Section: Just Sustainability With Relevance To Dhakamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Just Sustainability in the Global South: A Case Study of the Megacity of Dhaka

Ahmed

Meenar

2018

Journal of Developing Societies

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Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, accommodates 18 million people and is one of the largest megacities in the world. A large share of its population is poor and lives in informal settlements which can be called slums. In addition to precarious and unhealthy living conditions, these slum dwellers lack formal land tenure rights and therefore are subject to government-supported evictions. Slum evictions due to various urban development pressures may bring short-term benefits to the urban real estate market but have adverse long-term effects on sustainability and livelihoods of the city’s poor residents. Using the conceptual lens of just sustainability (JS)—which facilitates an investigation of the normative and practical challenges of sustainability and environmental justice—the authors argue that urban development in Dhaka needs to ensure social justice and sustainability. While the geographic focus of this article is Dhaka, this study has direct relevance—in terms of policy and planning implications—for other cities in the Global South.

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Dhaka, Bangladesh: unpacking challenges and reflecting on unjust transitions

Cited by 35 publications

References 44 publications

Noncommunicable Diseases, Park Prescriptions, and Urban Green Space Use Patterns in a Global South Context: The Case of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Noncommunicable Diseases, Park Prescriptions, and Urban Green Space Use Patterns in a Global South Context: The Case of Dhaka, Bangladesh

City Profile: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Just Sustainability in the Global South: A Case Study of the Megacity of Dhaka

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