ASSIGNMENT

North South University

Topic: Challenges of Urbanization in Bangladesh
Course: Geo205
Section: 02

Submitted To:
Professor Dr. M. Nazrul Islam (Mzs)
Department of Environmental Science and Management
North South University

Submitted by:
Moushan
Id: 1711522630

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 Table of Contents

1. Introduction………………………………………………. 1

2. Causes of Urbanization………………………………….. 2-7

3. Urbanization Trends in Bangladesh…………………… 8-10

4. Present Situation of Urbanization……………………… 10-11

5. Challenges of Urbanization in Bangladesh…………… 12-15

6. Impact of Urbanization on Environment……………… 16-19

7. Recommendations…………………………………….. 20

8. Conclusion………………………………………………. 21

9. References………………………………………………. 22

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 Introduction

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated country. It has also faced rapid
population growth throughout the last century, although the population growth rate has somehow
decreased to a moderate level in recent times. Basically, Bangladesh known as a rural-agrarian
country. But today Bangladesh is experiencing rapid transformation towards an urban society.
However, the nature of urbanization in Bangladesh are not necessarily similar to in other
countries even so our country is going to witness a rapid spread of urbanization over the next
decade. According to an estimate, by 2020, nearly every man, woman and child will live in an
urban area. Unless this spread is efficiently managed, the chaotic conditions and accompanying
ills like pollution, joblessness and exacerbation of criminal activities is likely to multiply. The
growing disparity in living standards in Dhaka between the slum dwellers on one side and well-
to-do urban elites on the other may lead to increased social and political instability. However,
with a proper strategy for growth and employment, this can give rise for job creation in the non-
farm sector and thus absorb surplus labor force generating in the agricultural sector.

The urban population in Bangladesh was only 6.27 million in 1974 but it grew to over 39 million
in 2011. The urbanization level has jumped from 8.78 percent to 27.66 percent in this period.
The long run exponential growth rate of urban population over the period 1974-2011 has been
5.18 percent, as against only 1.36 percent of the rural population. The long run trends of the total
population growth has been only 2.18 percent, gives an idea of the rapidly of the pace of
urbanization. The urban rural growth differential in terms of the annual exponential growth rates
has average a sizeable 4.25 percent in the last 37 years illustrating the transformation of the
country towards urbanization at a remarkable pace.

Urbanization worldwide has been found to be an effective engine of economic growth and socio-
cultural development. In pure economic terms, urbanization contributes significantly to the
national economy. Just as urbanization brings along economic and social benefits, it also poses
some serious challenges, especially when it takes place at a pace as rapid as the one in evidence
in Bangladesh today.

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 Causes of Urbanization

Urbanization, the process by which large numbers of people become permanently concentrated
in relatively small areas, forming cities. Urbanization is also the process through which cities
grow, and higher and higher percentages of the population comes to live in the city. Urbanization
refers to the increasing number of people that live in rural area. Urbanization can describe a
specific condition at a set time, the proportion of total area in cities and towns, or the term can
describe the increase of this proportion over time. So, the term urbanization can represent the
level of urban development relative to overall population, or it can represent the rate at which the
urban proportion increasing. In Bangladesh, the level of urbanization is in increasing day by day.
But there are some basic causes and reasons of urbanization in Bangladesh. The causes of
migration to a city are generally describe in a simple push-pull model. Push factors, including
population pressure, shortage of lands and lack of employment opportunities are commonly
advanced as the main reasons for migration to cities in the third world countries. In the absence
of industrialization the pull factors are few. There is considerable evidence that cities in the third
world offer better economic and social opportunities than the rural areas.

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Overall, urban in-migration indeed results from combinations of factors- physical, social,
cultural, economic, political and psychological. And also the main causes of urbanization is
closely linked to modernization, industrialization, and the sociological process of rationalization.
These are the main causes of urbanization in our country which helps our country to make more
developing country in the world. By increasing the level of urbanization our country is going to
be developed now-a-days. So, here is the details of these causes of urbanization is given below:

Industrialization

Industrialization

Industrialization is the process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agriculture

to one based on the manufacturing of goods. Industrialization is a major cause of urbanization.
Characteristics of industrialization include economic growth, more efficient division of labor,
and the use of technological innovation to solve problems as opposed to dependency on

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conditions outside human control. It has expanded the employment opportunities. Rural people
have migrated to cities on account of better employment opportunities. For example, once upon a
time 80 percent people lived in the rural area and their livelihood was agriculture. But in this
period of 2020, we are upgraded by this industrialization. Now-a-days most of our rural people
come in the urban area from rural area because of their shelter. So, the industrialization is one of
the most important part of urbanization which helps us to make our country more and more
developed and we certainly hope and expect that Bangladesh will emerge as a country with
sustainable economic growth and industrially developed middle income country.

Some factors of urbanization

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Some factors

Many social factors such as attraction of cities, better standard of living, better educational
facilities, need for status also induce people to migrate to cities.

Employment Opportunity

Employment Opportunity

In our country rural sector people have to depend mainly on agriculture for their livelihood. But
in drought situations or natural calamities, rural people have to migrate to cities because of better
employment. In this difficult situation they can’t work in the rural areas, for this reason they
decide to come in urban area and try to search work in the urban area and then settle there. So, it
is also an important cause of urbanization in our country.

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 Modernization

Modernization

Modernization is the current term for an old process - the process of social change whereby less
developed societies acquire characteristics common to more developed societies. Modernization
also produces the societal environment in which rising output per head is effectively
incorporated. In our country urban areas are characterized by sophisticated technology, better
infrastructure, communication, medical facilities etc. For this reason people feel that they can
lead a comfortable life in cities and migrate to cities and they become modernize day by day.

Better food supply

It is also an important point of causes of urbanization. Because we all know that in our country
the food facilities or supply is better than rural area in urban area. In urban area there are many
super shop or wholesale market where people can choose their item and buy all the things. But in
rural area this facility is not available. So, it is mostly connected with urbanization.

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Good Medical Care

We all know about the difference between the medical care in urban and rural area. In rural area,
when people are injured they try to come in the urban area very quickly for better medical
service. So, undoubtedly, it is most appropriate with the urbanization.

Some other causes of urbanization

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 Urbanization Trends in Bangladesh

Year Urban Population (in Rural Population (in Percentage urban

million) million)

1901 0.70 28.23 2.43

1911 0.81 30.75 2.56

1921 0.88 32.38 2.64

1931 1.07 34.53 3.02

1941 1.54 40.46 3.66

1951 1.82 40.24 4.33

1961 2.64 48.20 5.19

1974 6.27 65.21 8.78

1981 13.54 73.58 15.54

1991 22.46 89.00 20.15

2001 28.61 95.25 23.10

2011 42.70 107.80 28.37

Trends of Urbanization in Bangladesh (1901-2011)

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This table contains the percentage of urbanization in every year. Here, the table starts from 1901
and ends in 1911. In 1901, the urban population (in million) is 0.70 and the rural population (in
million) is 28.23 when the percentage of urbanization is 2.43. After ten years in 1911, the urban
population (in million) is 0.81 and the rural population (in million) is 30.75 when the percentage
of urbanization is 2.56. If compare with these ten years the percentage level is increased a little
bit. Then again after ten years in 1921, the urban population (in million) is 0.88 and the rural
population (in million) is 32.38 when the percentage of urbanization is 2.64. If compare with
1911-1921, in these ten years the percentage level also increased a little bit. Again, after ten
years, in 1931, the urban population (in million) is 1.07 and the rural population (in million) is
34.53 when the percentage of urbanization is 3.02. If compare with 1921-1931, in these ten years
the percentage level increased a little bit also. Then, in 1941, the urban population (in million) is
1.54 and the rural population (in million) is 40.46 when the percentage of urbanization is 3.66.
When compare with 1931-1941, in these ten years the percentage level also increased a little bit.
Then in 1951, the urban population (in million) is 1.82 and the rural population (in million) is
40.24 when the percentage of urbanization is 4.33. If compare with 1941-1951, in these ten years
the percentage level also increased. In 1961, after ten years the urban population (in million) is
2.64 and the rural population (in million) is 48.20 when the percentage of urbanization is 5.19.
Here, from 1951-1961 the urbanization also increased from before ten years. Then after fourteen
years that means in 1974, the urban population (in million) is 6.27 and the rural population (in
million) is 65.21 when the percentage of urbanization is 8.78. Here the percentage was counted
after fourteen years because of the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. After getting our
liberation, our country upgraded day by day and increased the urbanization level highly from
before. If compare with 1961-1974, in these fourteen years the percentage level increased mostly
double and it’s happen only for when we won our liberation war. Then in 1981, again the urban
population (in million) is 13.54 and the rural population (in million) is 75.58 when the
percentage of urbanization is 15.54. After 1974 we became very modernize day by day and our
urbanization percentage also increasing rapidly. Then again, after ten years in 1991, the urban
population (in million) is 22.46 and the rural population (in million) is 89.00 when the
percentage of urbanization is 20.15. In these ten years the percentage of urbanization also
increased. In 2001, the urban population (in million) is 28.61 and the rural population (in
million) is 95.25 when the percentage of urbanization is 23.10. If compare with 1991-2001, in

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these ten years the percentage level also increased. And lastly in 2011, the urban population (in
million) is 42.70 and the rural population (in million) is 107.80 when the percentage of
urbanization is 28.37. If compare with 2001-2011, in these ten years the percentage level also
increased very rapidly. From these table it is clear to all we are now mostly urbanized country
because when it was 1901 the urbanization percentage is only 2.43 and after our liberation war it
was increased by double percentage and when it was 2011 the urbanization percent was 28.37. It
increased rapidly.

Present Situation of Urbanization

Bangladesh’s urban population has been growing at a yearly average rate of 6 percent since
independence, at a time when the national population growth was 2.2 percent. As a result, urban
population has grown six-fold, compare with 70 percent increase in rural population. As per
recent UN data, approximately 25 percent Bangladesh’s current population currently lives in
urban area. Of this urban population, more than half lives in the four large cities: Dhaka,
Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi. With a population of almost 12 million, Dhaka is the capital
and mostly largest city in our country. It is also the 11th largest city in the world. At the same
time, it is consistently ranked as one of the world least livable city. Although income growth is
higher and the poverty incidence is lower than the rest of Bangladesh, Dhaka still is low income
city with large numbers of poor when compared with most mega cities in the world. Holding the
prospects for better income opportunities than most parts of Bangladesh, rapid migration is
causing Dhaka’s population to grow much faster than the rest of the country. This fast
urbanization is putting pressure on the cities limited land, an already fragile environment, and
weak urban services. The population density is now believed to have reached around 34000
people per square kilometer, making Dhaka amongst the most densely populated city in the
world.

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 Slum in Bangladesh

Water pollution in Bangladesh

All major cities in South Asia are facing some similar problems such as water and war pollution
from poor waste and traffic management poses serious health risk and other one is the already
acute slum population is growing further, contributing to serious human and law and other
problems. In general poverty, deplorable condition of slums, corruption and inefficiency in
service delivery, weak governance and poor finances are characteristic of all South Asian mega
cities like Dhaka, Kolkata, Karachi, Mumbai and Delhi. Dhaka probably ranks the worst,
however, in terms of infrastructure, service delivery and city governance. It all are compare with
the world’s mega cities but if we compare with our previous rate in the urbanization and current
rate of the urbanization then it will be clear to all that our country has been increasing very
rapidly in urbanization from before.

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 Challenges of Urbanization in Bangladesh
Urbanization brings along economic and social benefits, but it also poses some serious
challenges, especially when it takes place at a pace as rapid as the one in evidence in Bangladesh
today. The current and future challenges of urbanization are many such as

 Challenges of the massive national and urban population (which is present and future
challenge)
The huge size of national population and fast increasing urban population are challenges
of enormous magnitude. At the current 4% growth, the urban the urban population is
increasing by at least 1.6 million annually. An overwhelming majority of them very poor
migrants. Providing them with jobs, shelter and other basic needs is a great challenges.

 Challenges of enhancing urban economic productivity (Providing employment and

reducing poverty)

Cities are basically economic entities and they have to take challenge of competitiveness.
This is particularly true for the capital and megacity Dhaka and the port city Chittagong.
These two have to be internationally competitive. More should be competitiveness also
among the cities within the country. Cities are expected to be centers of employment.
Employments can be in the public sector and in the private sector. More so in the private
sector.

 Challenges in provision of urban utilities and services

Rapid urban growth has made heavy demands on urban utilities and services like
electricity, gas, water, sanitation, sewerage, garbage, disposal, telephone, cables. In each
of these sector scarcity or inadequacy of the service and mismanagement in general have

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 caused crisis situations. Inadequate and poor quality of water and situation affect health
of the urban population seriously. Public toilets in cities.

 The challenge of Education

These has been phenomenal development in both education sector in Bangladesh, both in
rural and urban areas, and yet many in urban slum communities remain unserved. The
female stipend program in rural areas has made significant positive impact, but urban
girls are not include in the program. Ensuring quality in education is a yet another
challenge. Skill development is a priority need for supporting the poor.

 The challenge of access to health services

The 2006 Bangladesh urban health survey and other studies report an improvement in
health indicators but the conditions are uniformly bad in slum populations. The public
sector needs to extend and improve health services for the poor. The private sector also
need to attend to the poor.

 Challenge of providing transportation services [both inter-city communication

linkages and intra-city transportation present complex challenge in terms of adequacy and
quality]
Transportation problems are extreme in Dhaka and Chittagong. Poor planning and weak
management are key constraints. Corruption makes management difficult. Traffic
congestions cause enormous financial losses and air pollution in turn causing health
hazards.

 Challenges of environmental management ( Degradation and pollution, climate change

and natural hazards)
The greatest challenge of rapid urbanization on a massive scale is in the form of
degradation of the urban environment, of the kind which we now experience in Dhaka. Its
air, water, and soil have already been polluted to a dangerous level. Many of our cities
are also unfortunately vulnerable to major natural hazards like flood, riverbank erosion,

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cyclones, earthquakes etc. The frequency of occurrence and also the severity are likely to
increase with the threat of climate change.
With rapid urbanization urban physical expansion takes place fast and more areas
in agriculture and forests get converted to built-up areas. Wet lands are
encroached upon and hills cut down. Rivers are grabbed and polluted.
Extreme dearth of open spaces, park and play ground, reducing scope of
recreation for children, women and elderly.
There is also a challenge in establishing a minimum standard of visual aesthetics
in urban areas.

 Challenges of crime and violence

Along with other factors, due to limited quality of urban management and
governance, urban society, in Bangladesh, particularly in the big cities, has
come to be known as heavily criminalized. Violence has become a common
feature.
Political, Social and Cultural Conflicts are becoming serious threats to city
life. There is a law and order situation and a sense of high insecurity among
the common people. The rise of religious extremist forces in urban areas is a
big challenge. Growing international linkages in extremism is a matter of
concern. Law and order situation affect the urban poor the most.

 Challenge of institutionalizing urban vision, policymaking, urban

planning and planned urban development

Due to an absence of a proper vision and commitment, urban planning has so

far remained an unimportant area of concern. The scenario is gradually
changing, but still remains neglected. In this sector human resource shortage
is a constraint. Few urban plans have given adequate attention to the economic
and social dimensions of an urban system.

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 Sustainable urban future depends on a proper vision. Policy and long term and
short term policy. Although the Planning Commission had recognized the
importance of the urban sector (as evident in the Sixth 5 Year Plan and the
Perspective Plan). The Cabinet is yet to approve the Urban Sector Policy, the
first complete draft was for completed in 2006 and the final draft forwarded
for approval in 2014. Absence of an officially approved policy is a big
hindrance to planned urban development.

 Challenge of governance
Even within a democratic framework the urban local governments do not
enjoy proper autonomy and power. The Centers control is still overwhelming.
The inability to hold election in Dhaka (now North and South City
Corporations) in time is a bad instance. Finally it may take place after 12
years. Absence of good local governance and the constraints of developing it,
is a great challenge for desirable urbanization and urbanism. There is also
great need to strengthen capacities of the local urban bodies.

These are the main challenges details of urbanization. Some other challenges also responsible for
our urbanization rest of them are challenge of spatial imbalance in urbanization, challenge of
crime and violence, problems of special groups, challenge of urban resource mobilization,
challenge of governance etc. are also some point of urbanization.

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 Impact of Urbanization on Environment

Most cities are growing quickly, with the majority of growth projected to be in low-
income countries in Asia and Africa. Urban living offers many benefit to residents
including more job opportunities and higher incomes, and to business including lower
input costs, greater collaboration and innovation opportunities. But urbanization
especially if it is rapid- also brings challenges and some impact on our environment. As a
developing country Bangladesh has also some impacts on environment due to
urbanization like as

 More people are living in insecure like Rented Housing

As urbanization increases, most of the rural people come to the urban area
because of better livelihood. They come to the urban area and then try to rent
house and sometimes it is difficult for poor people because of high renting. In
this time they feel insecure in the urban area or if people get a perfect rent
house there also have to some problem like water supply, high rent, not have
perfect facilities etc. So, for this reason more people are living in insecure
their rented house in the urban area.

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 Water supply problem
In our country there are four urban area like Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna,
Rajshahi where people come to these areas for better livelihood, better
education and sometimes for better treatment also. For this reason these places
are very crowded. So, many times it seems that in many houses people don’t
get water supply properly or sometimes they don’t get pure water also.
However for this urbanization and modernization this water supply problem is
a very big problem for our country.

 Traffic jam problem in urban areas

In Bangladesh, Dhaka is our capital and one of the most densely cities. So,
most of the people come here for their livelihood, study and somebody come
here for permanent to stay. Wherefore Dhaka is most populated country so the
roadways of Dhaka is full by the traffic jam all time. It is a big problem for
all. Because no one can’t tell when the jam will departs. It is disturbing for all
like an office employee, a student, a patient, a teacher and sometimes a boss
also. For urbanization this is one of the biggest problem in our country mostly
Dhaka.

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 Environmental problem of solid waste mismanagement
In Bangladesh air and water pollution is common to all. Most of the time in
our country air and water is polluted by solid waste mismanagement. People
throw waste in the streets and drains instead of dustbin, there create odor. As a
result air become polluted. On the other side solid waste mixed with the water
of river and water becomes polluted. Moreover, waste is also spreading
rapidly into canals and rivers. Air pollution from the waste is affecting not
only human beings but also animals and various types of disease spread over
human body. Waste could be transmitted to wealth using modern science and
recycling process. So people should have to be careful about the air and water
pollution how to remove.

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These are the main impact of urbanization on environment. Government and every people of our
country should be very careful about these problems. They should have to think obviously about
how to remove these problem rapidly.

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 Recommendations

Urbanization in our country is increasing day by day. In the prior time in 1901 our country was
fully agricultural country. Most of the people of our country made their livelihood by agriculture.
But in this current situation in 2020, most of the people come to the urban area and make their
livelihood by different types of work in cities. So it is clear that in Bangladesh the urbanization
percentage is upgrading rapidly. But every things have a positive and negative sites also so this
urbanization has also some negative point like traffic jam problem, water supply problem, solid
waste mismanagement etc. So, for removing these problems government and people also should
have to be more careful like

Improving city Governance: the principal strategy.

Essential that they have elected and accountable governments with clearly defined
responsibilities.

Government and people both should be more careful about their responsibilities.

Government that is able to attract private investment and mobilize public resources based
on service delivery and attractive city environment.

Vehicular pollution control in metropolitan cities and other cities in our country deserves
top priority.

Serious attention should be given to the need for improving urban strategies, which
promote efficiency in resource use.

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 Conclusion

The process of economic development and pattern of urbanization are linked with the
changing long term structure of the economy. The Bangladesh economy has been
undergoing a remarkable change. The economy is also gradually being integrated with
the world market through the process of globalization. Bangladesh has a great prospect to
develop through a process of urbanization in near future if a congenial investment
climate, good governance, can be ensured. Urbanization is a worldwide inevitable
phenomenon. During last century world urban population increased remarkably. But
there are lots of challenges in urban environment of Bangladesh have to face to attain
sustainable development. Major challenging in urban sector are housing and
infrastructure, industrialization, lack of land, water supply and waste management.
Government should address these problems properly and need to take proper plan to
overcome these challenges. Government need to step to aware the people and compliance
with the law. It is tough to face all the challenges. But the government should prioritize
the challenges and need to resolve the challenges. We should be strategic and stay focus
to overcome these problems. In every stages of development we have to face new
challenges. But it is natural and we should take a proper plan to face these challenges. In
future we need to study on identify the implementation to sustainable development of
urban environment.

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