Town Planning and the Political Culture of Planning

relatively recent procesS in the third world whera

Urban planning is a t
is just start to fly its basic Wings. though growing most rapidly now in theca
third world countries. Urban planning in this subcontinent has got quite an
ancient history which could have been popularized and been more effective
in terms of providing a more identitiable set of concepts and practices for ite
urban citizens. However. history of urban planning in Bangladesh owes it'
origin to the Mohanjodaro and Harappa civilization. Few towns lika
Mainamati and Paharpur developed during the medieval period. until the 16th
century. present evidence of planning. The present Dhaka was established in
1610 by the Mughals as the Capital of their eastern province of Bengal.
showed some evidence of rudimentary urban planning. During the British
period some early forms of urban planning took its shape but it did not grow
and develop in the eastern provinces forming part of Bangladesh. However
the first master plan for Dhaka was prepared in 1959 during Pakistan era. The
preparation of master plan for Dhaka was completed in 1995 under the
project "Preparation of Structure Plan. Master Plan and Detailed Area Plan
for Dhaka'". The preparation of Detailed Area Plan is now in the final phase
though the implementation of the structure plan and Urban Area Plan is yet to
be implemented effectively. The catalogue of information regarding
history of urban planning is given in the Chapter 2.

5.3 Definitions of shelter, house and housing

Shelter: The definition of shelter refers to:
A structure that provides privacy and
protection from danger.
Protective covering that provides protection from the weather.
Protection: the condition of being protected.
Temporary housing for homeless or displaced persons.
Thus a structure that shields or protects specially against climatie
vagaries: a place of refuge. retreat, or temporary lodging in distress.
protection. A shelter does not include any reference to ownership or authority
for use. Pit-houses,
cyclone-shelter. primitive caves etc. are shelters.
House: The idea of house usually invokes a physical form that gives us
protection from the elements, physical and ps ychological security, and sOClal
Status in the specific society we live in. A house is a physical entity, whien

provides space for taking rest, sleep, cooking, bathing etc. A house
privacy from outside
provias
disturbance and protection against enemies and vaganes
of chmate. T he pnme
objectives of house are to ensure security and comio
In case of house, there arses a
question of legal right or possession or usc
Housing: I he concept of housing implies, in gross simplification. making
or
producing houses in one way or other to provide living spaces for peopic

23www. wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
 Components of Urban Planning 117

with supporting services. The word housing is not meant for a single house
but for collective structures in which people are housed. John Turner, saying
"Housing is a verb": implied that to dwell involves a process that goes far
beyond just physical shelter. Turner developed the idea of understanding
housing as a verb not as a substantive. setting an entire new comprehension
to the human habitat. The house is mostly understood in a stable and steady
state. when it is really in constant change due to the natural evolution of
tamilies. Besides. houses are frequently found in large massive dwelling. and
usually they offer an identical solution to a very different family requirement.
This inequality among rigid and repetitive buildings to accomplish different
Situations including time variables is one of the most complex challenges in
today's planning and architecture practices.
Housing means shelter or the means of providing shelter. It is a place
where people care for most of their bodily needs; rear their children; keep
their belonging; seek quiet and privacy; entertain relatives and friends; and in
general fulfill the basic domestic and personal functions of family life
including provision of employment and income generation. The word
Housing encompasses a vast meaning like sanitation, water supply.
cooking, bathing place etc. Thus housing means not only a structure but also
a combination of structure and infrastructure as well as services needed for
living.
Housing is a global problem. Dhaka Metropolitan area is not exceptional.
The problem of housing in Dhaka is very acute and frightening. During the
last few years the degree of urban growth was very rapid. giving rise to
typical problems of urban conglomeration and housing. In the past decades.
housing problems in Dhaka increased year by year. It has reached a critical
point resulting in the growing number of destitute, squatters. crime and
delinquency footpath dwellers and street children. slum dwellers, dilapidated
houses, poor sanitation, lack of adequate drainage, flooding, lack of
recreational space. traffic congestion, pollution and degradation of
environment.

5.4 Characteristics of housing

Housing is basically a highly complex, bulky, durable and permanent produet

and a composite social goal. It incorporates a complex set of materials: land.
bricks. timber, concrete, tiles, wiring. plumbing and varieties of finished
products. An individual house has floor, wall and roof and includes spaces
for taking rest, sleeping. cooking and bathing: all combined together make it
useable.
Housing stock is a very important community resource and is managed
a whole by the community. The use of one dwelling unit affects the
usefulness of others in very material ways. The structure of social, moral.
18 Town Planning and the Political Culture of
Planning
legal and econonmic relationship in the community 1S
housing sector. Land and
capital are 'the
persistently related to
basic resources ts its

housing. Land ties people

spatially:; but land. which constituto
very scarce and indispensable resource. An particularly the urban land is
opportunity individual does not a
determine the standard of his
to
own
have tha
share in the land which defines the housing, because he mustst
which is jointly created community and also the
capital (facilities
by that community. The standards for
determined by a set of one and al are
systems which cross the
frontiers of
disciplines. several
Housing is a saleable commodity. It is
demand where the subject to the laws of supply and
elastic and
supply is scarce and
inelastic in
constantly
rented. Achievement ofgrowing demand. Housing is notcomparison with the
both economic and only sold but also
social goals reflected by home
ownership. The economic characteristics of a is
investment, an incentive for house can be viewed as
in the saving, and a
way of
a
good
community and as freedom from improving credit
which encourage home landlords. The social standing
ownership include family pride in characters
security, a belief in the virtue of owning, family
citizenship. private ownership, and a sense of better

5.5
Importance of housing
Housing significantly influences the social and
housing system play
can a personal life. An adequate
vital role in the
The role of development process of a nation.
man-made physical environment
wholly is to fulfill the
or
partially whether these needs human needs
needs may be discussed
at two
are
readily recognized or not.
Human
the socio-cultural. levels; the biological (also
called basic) and
Housing fulfills human needs from
There are both direct and both levels.
indirect roles of
housing provides privacy, shelter and housing. In its direct role
physical forces and disturbances. In its protection against hostile
the indirect role housing serves
purpose of social and economic
SOCial
interactions, recreation, services, such as places for
protecting services, shopping andsports, social welfare, and heal
Housing plays a key role in transportation.
population by providing spacemaintaining the health of a
for sleep and rest which nation »
biological needs of human are
housing it can being. Through the careful design the
improve such health-related conditions such
o
lightúng. ventilation, toilet facilities and
as
Space
Housing provides privacy to
cooking.
irom others the individual against
which are
important interrupio
for rest, sleeping, study,
and maintaining one's meditation
personal integrity and development.
 Components of Urban Planning 119
Housing provides facilities for social interactions, co-ordination of
shared activities and recreation for different age groups, community
cohesion and political participation. Housing also facilitates sOCial
integration on the basis of race. religion, language or ethnic
background which helps to derive social significance and formn
balanced communities.
Housing optimizes the availability and use of the social services such
as education, medical care. maternal and child care, retail buying.
cultural facilities such as theatres. cinemas. libraries, sport-centers
etc.
Well planned housing can economize an urban space, minimize the
cost of urban structure and increase national producti vity.
Housing can play a vital role in the reduction of transportation
problem of urban area, depending on its location ith respect to
other vital activities such as- employment. education and shopping
Housing projects can be so located as to decrease the time spent at
the journey to work. The reduction of travel time makes a substantial
contribution to over-all societal efficiency, releasing time for other
productive or leisurely activities.
Housing can modify urban form and community development to
improve efficiency. Access to earning opportunities is sometimes
best improved by increasing the low-income housing supply near
employment opportunities; also it is better to locate industrial and
commercial activities near low-income housing concentrations; and
linking existing residential and employment areas by improved
transport system.
Housing has multiple economic characteristics. It represents some
15% to 30% of household expenditures and it is the major focus of
saving from family income. lt is recognized as a profitable
investment item, yielding a flow of income. For some households, it
is also a place of business (Hasan, 1991).
Investment in housing has an important impact on income and
employment of workers. In the Republice of South Korea. for
example, approximately 14 additional jobs are ereated for every
$10000 spent on construction of housing. Housing accounts for 20%
to 30% of total fixed capital formation in many countries (Hasan.
1991).
A housing environment is an index of the social health, happiness.
social justice and dignity of inhabitants; and all these emanate from a
livable decent housing environment. Where it does not exist. it
usually reflects a sense of despair. deprivation and deepening
should be given proper priority since it fosters the
violence. Housing
development of human resources. Good housing can help to raise the
120 Town Planning and the Political Culture of Planning

productivity of force and

countrys labor
a
accelerate
development process. So. housing should be considered as a nrioriits
area for development.

5.6 Classification of housing

In the context of Bangladesh housing can be categorized as follows:

Housing

Urban housing Rural housing

Low income Middle income Higher income

1. Squatters 1. Detached house 1. Duplex house

2. Resettlement camps 2. Semi-detached house 2. Triplex house
3. Slums 3. Row house/town
4. Conventional tenement
3. Apartment house
house
slums
5. Employee's housing
6. Other sub-systems

. Thatch/straw wall house

2. Mud wall house
3. Timber house
4. Timber and brick-built house
5. Corrugated iron sheet houses
6. Bamboo walled house
7. Tally House

In this
chapter, an
attempt is made to categorize these urban housin
types with their inirinsic characteristics. Housing, especially urban housinE
the major component of urban planning is discussed here.
5.6.1 Low income housing
There are different types of low income
housing exists in the urban areas
the world. These types vary in different
parts of the world and in accordanc
to their characteristics.
 Components of Urban Planning 121

5.6.1.1 Squatters
Squatter may be defined as one who settles on land without right or title or
pay ment of rent. They are unauthorized dwellers who are low income people
and build their housing in government land. These are characterized by
rudimentary shelters and lack of basic services. The density of squatter
settlements are very high; almost 1500 - 2000 persons per acre. Generally.

squatting 1s the act of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or

building that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise has permission to
It is significantly more common in urban areas than rural
use.
areas.
especially when urban decay occurs. The concept of squatter settlements
varies country to country, according to the socio-political, economic and
legal framework. The existence of squatter settlements around the world has
got a long history. There are many large squatter communities in Africa. A
BBC News reported a larger squatter named. Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya as:
The first thing that hits you here is this rich stench of almostI million
people living in this ditch - in mud huts, with no sewage pipes, no roads, no
water. no toilet. in fact. with no services of any kind'". In South Africa.
squatters tend to live in informal settlements or squatter camps on the
outskirts of the larger cities, often but not always near
townships. However,
in many
European countries, there are squatted houses and large squatted
projects where people live and work. Examples of the latter include an old
leper hospital outside Barcelona called Can Masdeu and former
military
barracks such as Christiania in Denmark and Metelkova in Slovenia.
In Italy.
there is Bussana Vecchia. a ghost town in
Liguria which was abandoned in
1887 following an earthquake and
subsequently squatted in the 1960s. In
France. there is Collectif la vieille Valette, a
which has been active since 1991.
self-supporting squat village
In UK, the term 'squatting' usually refers to
The
occupying an empty house in
a
city. owner of the house must go through various
legal
before evicting squatters. Squatting is regarded in law as a proceedings
civil, not a
criminal, matter. The squatter legally
occupies the house and then the owner
must prove in court that
they have a right to live in the property and that the
squatter does not, whilst the squatter has the opportunity to claim there is not
sufficient proof or that the proper legal
steps have not been taken. In order to
occupy a house legally, ä squatter must have exclusive access to that
property, that is, be able to open and lock an entrance.
United States, squatting laws vary from state to However, In the
state and city to
most
part it is rarely tolerated to any degree for city. For the
Laws based on a contract long. particularly in cities.
for deed holders to evict
ownership interpretation of property make it easy
squatters under loitering or
trespassing laws. The
Situation is more
complicated for legal residents who fail to make rent or
mortgage payments, but the result is
largely the same. Most squatting in the
U.S. is
dependent on law enforcement and the person legally considered to be
Owner of the
property being unaware of the occupants.
 Town Planning and the Political Culture of Planning
122

There are different type of squatter settlement exists throughout Asia. In

Mumbai, there are an estimated six million people are living in different tyne
squatters. The squatters live in a variety of ways; some possess two or threa
story homes built out of brick and concrete which they have inhabited for
years. Geeta Nagar is a squatter v1llage based beside the Indian Nav
at Colaba. Squatter Colony in Malad East
has existed since 1962
compound
and now people living there pay a rent to the city counc1l of 100 rupees a
month. Dharavi is a community of one million squatters.
The existance of squatter settlement is quite a common picture in the big
cities of Bangladesh like Dhaka. Chittagong. Khulna, ete. The rapid growth
of these cities has resulted in the squatter settlements. Squatter settlements
are mostly found in pockets of land in the inner urban areas adjacent to
employment sources. Squatter settlements are likely to form in the middle
zones or outskirts of the city. The squatter occupy all available vacant public
lands and abandoned and unused private land usually on marg1nal terrain
besides railway tracts, slopes or depressed land, sewerage lines and on river
banks. In Dhaka. The problem of squatter settlement is comparati vely senous
than the other cities; especially, after liberation in 1971, the situation is fast
deteriorating owing to the rapid influx of rural migrants to the metropolitan
areas and large cities. Pallabi, Demra and Kamrangir Char are squatter
settlements located in the capital city of Dhaka and home to about 1,000,000
people.
5.6.1.2 Resettlement camps/plan
Resettlement camps are components of resettlement plans where people
in
reside in large groups occupying a single piece of land sometimes initially
in
crowded and congested condition. This type of colony was first developed
from
1947 when large number of refugees started to migrate to East Pakistan
India. For the settlement of these refugees, Government organizeu
Some >0»
resettlement camps at Mohammadpur and Mirpur in Dhaka city.
2002).
families were given shelter between 1958 and 1960 (Hasan & Kabir,
Beside these there are other resettlement camps spreading al
Bangladesh including some district and divisional towns like Saidpur, Khulna
and Chittagong etc. RAJUK also provides rehabilitation programs
allotting land to the affected persons in their different development projee ons
in Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Authority (JMBA), was to identity pers
genuinely affected by the project and to ensure that they receive
had
appropriate compensation and assistance. As many as l00,000 peoP
the
been affected either directly or indirectly by the implementation o th
to fund
A budget of over US$ 40 million had been allocated
project.
Resettlement Action Plan (JMBA*", 1998)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squatter
2 http://www.citechco.net/jmba
 Components of Urban Planning 123

5.6.1.3 Slums

Every major city throughout the world has slums. places where the poor
people gather to live. In general. slum is an overcrowded poverty-stricken
area having lack of open spaces and presence of unhealthy residential
structures. The definition of slum throughout the world is quite same with
some socio-cultural difference. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia defines it as
Slum is a densely populated area of substandard housing, usually in a city.
characterized by unsanitary conditions and social disorganization'. However
the United Nations agency UN-HABITAT defines a slum as a heavily
populated urban area characterized by substandard housing and squalor. The
term traditionally referred to housing areas that were once respectable but
which deteriorated as the original dwellers moved on to newer and better
parts of the city. but has come to include the vast informal settlements found
in cities in the developing world.
The formation of slum converts the land into a place of vices and
miseries and more or less it tesults into the state of hell on the surface of
earth. The slum dwellers live under conditions impairing their health and
happiness and they live there because they cannot afford better housing. In
fact slums are authorized settlements with
temporary or semi-permanent
structures of a single or double story. This is the most popular low income
housing with high area density, high room
crowding and unhygienie
condition. In Bangladesh, slums are locally known as Bastees which
includes:
usually
The rental house.
The rental mess unit.
T h e owner occupied unit.
According to a 2006 UN-HABITAT report, 327 million people live in
slums in Commonwealth countries almost one in six Commonwealth
-

citizens. In a quarter of
Commonwealth counties (11 African, 2 Asian and l
Pacific). more than two out of three urban dwellers live in slums and
these countries are urbanizing many of
rapidly." The frequency of slum is quite huge
in the developing countries of Asia; Indonesia is
one of the
having a massive amount of slum people. In the large cities leading
nations
of Bangladesh.
more than 50% of the
population lives in slums. In 1992, CUS
projected that
by the year 2010 the Dhaka slum population will be 5.6
indicate that more than 50 percent of million. Projections
urban areas by the year 2025 (Ahmed and
Bangladesh population will be living in
Mridha, 2003).
A UN Expert Group has created an
area that combines to
operational definition of a slum as an
various extents the
inadequate access to safe water, inadequate access following characteristics:
to sanitation and other
infrastructure: poor structural quality of housing;
overcrowding:
and insecure

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slum
 Components of Urban Planning 127
5.7 Housing situation in Bangladesh

'rban housing situation of a country gets shaped mainly influenced by four

factors. namely- income, city size, rate of urban population growth and
policy
conteNl of housing. There are also other factors which influence
situations in urban areas such as topography, climate,
housing
sOCTal structure and social
political situation and
heterogeneity. According to National Housing
Authority 28 (NHA) (2005). there were 77%
areas and 81% of total housing
populations used to live in rural
occupied in rural areas. And most of the
urban population lives in low cost poor housing like slums and squatters. The
number of slum
population in six different cities in our country stated below.
Tabie 5.1. Slum population in six different cities of Bangladesh in 2005.
City Total city population
Slum populationSlum population as
in 2005 in 2005 % of city population
Dhaka Metropolitan in 2005
9,136.182 3,420.521 37.4
Area
Chittagong 4,133,014 1,465,028 35.4
Khulna 966,837 188,442 19.5
Rajshahi 489,514 156,793
Barisal 32.0
365,059 109,705 30.1
Sylhet 356.440 97,676 27.4
Total 15,447.046 5,438,165 35.2
Source: CUS Slums
Study, 2005.

Demand for housing is increasing

2001, the total
day by day. According to the census
housing in Bangladesh is
,72.821 units of housing demand is raised. 2.53,62,000 units. Every year
Moreover the natural calamities
destroy the housing stock in our country. As for
ave
destroyed more
example floods of
than 9,00,000 houses, mostly
1998
5 million rural areas and another
in
houses were seriously damaged
allected houses were in the (UNCHS, 1998). The most
low-income category. In 2003, the half of
CStimated houses was 4.3 million and this was the
and made of temporary materials
needed replacement within one to five
years (BBS, 2003). One-third of
he housing in urban area is constructed under
formal
apid growth of the city has
resulted in the development regulatory
of several
system
d slum settlements and a large number of squatter
aka's populations live in poor shacks. About 30% of
slums and this figure
Ces of is escalating than the other
Bangladesh. In fact 30% of Dhaka's
population can be defined as
Hou
Using and Settiement Directorate
(HSD) and
IDeputy Commissioner Settlement (DCS) oftice
Deen abolished and new organization
a NHA has been formed
O2001 by merging these two
n s in 2000. The National Housing Authority Act. 2000 has
y through the govemnent noüfication. been implemented on the
15
 of Plannino
Town Planning
and the
Political Culture
nning
128
having per capita
monthly income ooff US$ 43
t .

(defined as
Or
hardcore poor monthiy income of USS 65
as p0or (per capita
2.100 shtma
less). The
The
less) and 50% showed that there were
in 1993
Dhaka survey
greater had lived. According to a surveu
rvey of 1996,
million people 96,
where three and in accordance of tha
city slums were 3,00/.
small to large of
total 2005. SIX CIy COrporations are
Studies (CS) sed of
Center for Urban 5.438,165 whera
in these slums are
9,048 slums and total population nearly
the absolute poverty line. Oniy DCC comprises of
40 ner cent live below
total population in these slums are 3,420 521
4.966 slums (54.9%) and
densities of these slums are 891 per acre. This IS
(62.9%). The population
eight to ten higher than the average city population density.
times
access to land and land price is increasino
There is massive inequality 1n
Because of scarcity, speculation and increasing demand. the
very rapidly.
pace: about 20 to 50
price of land in the city 1s increasing phenomenal
at
of the land prices of different
times in the last 15 years. A relative figure
areas of Dhaka city can be
visualized by the following table.

Table 5.2. Land price in different Areas of Dhaka city.

1975 2000 2007
Area Tk./per Tk./per Tk./per Tk./per Tk./per Tk./per
katha Sq.m. katha Sq.m. katha Sq.m.
37.361 90,00.0000 134.328
Baridhara 25,000 373 25,00,000
32.877 80,00.000 119.403
Gulshan 25,000 375 22,00,000
80,00.000 119.403
Banani 25,000 375 20,00,000 29.888
26.900 80.00.000 119.403
Mohakhali 25.000 375 18,00.000
95.00.000 141,791
Dhanmondi 25.000 375 22.00.000 32.877
35,00.000 52.239
Azimpur 17.500 261 16,00.000 23,911
17,933 40,00.000 59.701
Mohammodpur 25.000 375 12,00,000
60,00.000 89.552
Santinagar 20.000 300 15,00.000 22,417 89.552
300 23,911 60.00.000
DOHS 20,000 16,00,000
30,00.000 44,776
Samoli 17.500 265 10,00.000 14,944
52.238
14,944 35,00.000
Utara 20,000 300 10,00,000 44,776
Cantonment 20.000 300 10,00,000 14,944 30,00,000
25,00,000 37.313
Kamalapur 17,500 265 8,00,000 I1,956
20,00.000 29,850
Gandaria 10,000 150 7,00,000 10,461
20,00.000 29,850
Bashabo 2,000 30 8,00,000 I1.956
20,00.000 29,850
Kallanpur 17.500 265 8,00,000 1956
20.00.000 29,850
Mirpur 10.000 50 7.00.000 10,416
29.850
Badda 4.000 8,967 20,00,000
60 6,00.000 26.865
Goran 4,000 8,967 18.00,000
60 6,00,000 22388
15.00,000
Damra .000 60 6,00,000 8,967 I64.179
I10,00.000
Motijil 50.000 750 35,00,000 52.305
80.00.000 119.403
Kawranbazar 41.500 620 25,00,000 37.361
Source: CUS, 1975 and author, 2000 & 2007.

The author made pricing the land by surveying all the real estate developmct
 Components of Urban Planning 129

Looking at the above features it seems that sustainable urbanization is

ne of the most pressing challenges for Bangladesh as well as the global
ommunity today. The world urban population is increasing at an alarming
comm
ote for 70 million per year. The State of the World's Cities Report 2006/07
of the UN-Habitat anticipates that by 2007. more people will live in cities
than in rural areas for the first time in human history. The slum population
than
will increase at a rate of 2/ millhon people per year during the period 2000
2020. The absence of adequate infrastructure, such as roads and water supply
electricity and communication facilities in many small and intermediate cities
will lead to a lower quality of life for their inhabitants.
The UNICEF sets the number of slum dwellers across Bangladesh at 15
million. or half the urban population of 30 million by 1996. By 2020. the
UNICEF forecast of urban population may rise to 70 million and slum
dwellers to 30 million (Malou. 2002)". But as of 2001, the total number of
slum dwellers is already reached at 31.5 million (The Daily Star. 2006,).
According to CUS Slums Study, 2005 the number of slum people in 2005S
was 5.438.l65.

5.7.1 Trends of urban and rural population and housing requirements

There are l44.32 million peoples living in 147,570 sq. km, gross density of
the country is 978 persons per square kilometer, the highest among the
agrarian countries in the world". There are 500 dwelling units per hector, but
in urban areas there
are more than 2000 persons per acre in
single story
housing. The overall growth rate has decreased to 1.48 per cent per year, but
urOan growth rate continues be and estimated
to high approximately 4.2 per
cent per annum (BBS, 2001).
lable 5.3. Rate of household formation by locality, 1960-1991/01.

Locality 1960-73 1973-81 1981-91 1991-2001

Bangladesh 2.1 2.1 2.6 4.9
Rural 1.8 1.3 2.0 2.1
Urban 6.2 8.9 5.7 6.7
Source: BBS, 2001.
During 2005, the estimated urban population was about 36 million.
Ch was about 25 per cent of totalpopulation. It was estimated to require 3.
,000 5, 50.000 units of housing
to
annually for next 20 years depending on
umber of backlog and
BBS. 2001). replacemnent units incorporated in the estimate

Bot
i e forecasts have been invalidated by the influx of slum
urbanization.the dwellers and the rate of
TSt rng listed 236 counuies in the world,
Bangladesh ranks 12th
among the
agrarian countries. position by density but
5.7.4 Slums and squatters
Slum is a term used to indicate the poor condition of shelter or house
where
the basic amenities like water
supply, drainage for standard living are
lacking. unsanitary conditions prevail and diseases flourish.
At times, shelters arranged for people in urgent need without any title
are
orright of ownership. Needy people themselves construct their own shelter or
shanty houses on unauthorized land. They are known as squatters. The
squatters or illegal settlements develop mostly on public or semi-public land,
are more
conspicuous in the large Metropolitan centers. The environmental
and socio-economic conditions of slums and
squatters are extremely p0or and
in fact very much hazardous. These
are unauthorized
iow income people or families residing or
building built by the
and public and semi public school
squatting in terminals. pavements
building.
5.7.4.1 Characteristics of slums
Followings are some of the usual or general characteristics of slums:
Appearance: The unpleasant appearance of slum offends the eyes
nose and conscience. The structures
appear to be shabby
deteriorated and to be of over-age.
Density: The population density in slum
areas is very high.
High rent: Though all the conditions and criteria of housing are
found at their worst state in slums, the
rent of slum units 1s n
highest, often it is higher than the
per sq. ft rent of apartment
housing.
Lack of services facilities: The slum area is usually nota
or
serviced one and thereby lacks
adequate supply of potable water. gas
Supply, hygienie and sanitation facilities, etc. The dwelling units i
slums usually lack adequate light and air flow.
Health and sanitation: Very poor standard of sanitation and
health conditions characterize the slum
poo
 Components of Urban Planning 135

I n c o m e eriteria: Slum dwellers are the people of the lowest income

group of the and thus slum is a poverty area.

society
Morals: Slums are socially disorganized and may prove to be an
area of delinquency. crime and vice.
Fire-hazards: The slum area is often exposed to the fire accidents
and consequent damages as slums are mainly made of very
inflammable materials.
Overcrowding: Slums are usually overcrowded with buildings
which are also overcrowded with people.
Population: Though the slum area is poverty-stricken. there exists a
degree of social organization. if they are racial or cultural.
Inhabitants of different categories within a homogeneous occupancy
are not sometimes welcomed.
Social isolation: Usually, through its labor force, slums are linked
up with the rest of the community. Though slum area is of the lowest
social status, because of the equality of voting and other legal rights,
the slum dwellers can identify themselves with certain political
groups in a democratic society.
Way of life: The way of life of the slum dwellers vary depending
upon the manner in which the slum has come up. The slum dwellers
may remain strangers to one another or they form a family slum with
thick acquaintance with one another. The characteristics of squatters
are almost similar or worse.

5.7.4.2 Causes of slums and squatter settlement

Formation of slums and squatters is mainly caused by the following reasons:
Rapid industrialization: Industrial growth and thereby employment
opportunities in towns and cities attract the rural population at a
large scale. The workers employed in the factories generally make
their habitation nearer to the place of work to avoid travel cost.
They
started to occupy the nearer land and open spaces and thus
to the formation of
give rise
squatter settlements.
Lack of implementation of zoning: Industrial use
may encroach
upon residential area if zoning regulations are not enforced in the
early development of town. And very soon there
may be
overcrowding with the formation of slums and squatters.
Lack of knowledge: Due to lack of education,
the inhabitants may
not pay attention to
improve the living conditions, lose civic interest
and neighborhood spirit.
Poverty: Poverty is the main cause for the formation of slums and
squatters. The low and unstable income family sometimes cannot
afford to buy daily food and thus leave no
for a decent living. option to pay a higher rent
They, therefore, move in slum and squatter areas.
 Town Planning and the Political Culture of Planning
136

Inadequate power: Lack adequate power and enforcing the ca

of
authorities are als0 the reason for th
by the central and local the
formation of slums and squatters.
River erosion and natural calamity: he river erosion and
landlessness in rural areas often force people to migrate mostly in

Dhaka and nearby towns and cities.

Though a lot of causes help to form slums and squatters in city areas but
it is increasing day by day. The following table represents the situation of
slums and squatters in terms of number of slum. population and density per
sq. km in six City Corporations of Bangladesh.

Table 5.7. Number of slum and slum population in city corporation area.
Slum Total Density (Per Sq. Km)
City corporations No. of Percentage Population In Slum In urban
slum in slum Area area

Dhaka City 4966 54.9 3,420,521 220,246 29,857

Corporation
Chittagong City 1814 20.0 1,465,028 255,100 23,299
Corporation
Khulna City 520 5.7 188,442 132,988 20.346
Corporation
Rajshahi City 641 7.1 156.793 67,236 9,544
Corporation
Sylhet City 756 8.3 97,676 158,741 12.961
Corporation
Barisal City 351 3.9 109,705 133,730 7.152
Corporation
All (Six) City 9048 100.0 5438,165 205,415 23.378
Corporation
Source: CUS Slum Survey, 2005.

From the survey and study of CUS it is observed that the total landless
and poor slum people in these six
city corporations are 54 lakh. Among ti
Dhaka and Chittagang comprise greater percentage of slum. The density or
slum population is so high which creates risky and hazardous environmenta
situation in these areas. It is also found from the observation that most of the
slums are raised in private land (89% in Dhaka. 86% in Chittagang. 82.7% n
Rajshah, 79.2% in Khulna,
99%
in Sylhet and in Barisha). 1ne
87.2%
private Owners create these risky housing in profit motivation.

5.7.4.3 Urban facilities in slum areas

The main source of water supply in slum areas are tap and tube well. Amon
the six city corporation area only the slum population of Dhaka 92.5%
 Components of Urban Planning 137

depended on supply water from Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA).

The slum people of other areas are mainly dependent on tube weli water. In
Khulna 98% slum people use tube well, water for their daily necessities
(CUS. 2005).
Safe and hygiene sanitation is the most important service for city
facility
dwellers. But the slum population often does not get this basic service. From
the survey it is found that only 28.8% slum dwellers of these six major cities
of
Bangladesh havehygiene sanitation facilities and 53% population use pit
latrine but it is disgraceful that still 12% families of Barishal defecate in open
space while according to the Bangladesh National Sanitation Strategy by
2010. 100% sanitation shall have to be achieved. Only electricity facility is
available for the slum dwellers in this
country. About 92% families have their
electricity connection and 44.6% slum of Dhaka, and Chittagong has gas
supply. Among the six city corporations' 56% slum has no dustbin or defined
space for waste disposal.

5.7.4.4 Effects of slums and squatters

The effects of slums and
squatters on the town life are manifold. They can be
summarized as below:
Absences of public facilities create unhealthy conditions and
thus
affect the health and life of the people.
Social and cultural life is lacking there from
top to bottom.
The surounding areas of slum and squatter lack essential amenities
in
required proportion because of overcrowding.
The physical environment of slum and
squatter is such that slum
dwellers are easily attacked by various
types of diseases.
The working of the institutions like
school, hospital, library, etc..
located nearby slums and squatters, is
seriously affected.
It is a disgrace to both the dwellers and
the town authorities wh0
allow them to grow. These are therefore black
face.
spots on the city's
Slum and squatter areas are not suitable for working peacefully
because of noise, smoke, dust, darkness, erime and traftie
congestion.
The children of slums and
squatters develop low moral characters
gradually due to being detached from education or living in an
unfavorable environment. Thus they are
and clandestine activities in
and
easily attracted by crime
bootlegging,
narcotics. drugs.
adulteration,
vice and delinquency.
A slum dweller loses his ambition. civic interest as well as
wholesome neighborhood spirit.