Rationale of the project

The aspect of environment is an important issue in urban planning. As we know, with the increase
of population demand on land also increase and the pressure implies automatically in the
environment. In one hand open spaces, greenery, forest along with small ecosystem get hampered.
On the other hand, increasing industrial and commercial activity, motor vehicles and power
stations emit greenhouse gases which are directly harmful to the environment. So maintaining
environmental balance and pollution free environment is a really matter of challenge for the
developing cities in the south Asian region specially in Dhaka city. On the other hand, the whole
Dhaka city is undergoing huge construction work due to structural development program of the
government. Specially, the construction of rapid bus transit, metro rail project and several flyover
projects are still on going which are responsible for producing huge suspended particulate matters.
In addition, with that, all of the projects are responsible for destruction of considerable amount of
trees and green areas. As a result, Dhaka city is regraded as the most air polluted city in the world
according to IQ air. Oxides of Carbon, Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulphur, Suspended
particulate matter (SPM), Photochemical smog etc. can be classified as major pollutant of air.
Suspended particulate matter which can exist in air in form of PM 2.5 PM 10 is a real concern for
environmentalist because of their damaging effect on health. Internationally, air quality index of
0-100 is considered normal and 101-150 is considered tolerable, In Dhaka city in goes over 250 to
300 in the month of December to march which is considered very unhealthy. Moreover, in the
summer and rainy season SPM based pollution reduce slightly but temperature gets really high
even compared with nearby areas. In both cases, reduced amount of green coverage is causing air
pollution and temperature rise. As a result the life and living of the city dwellers is getting
measurable. Agargaon, In this regard, is considered as a major hub of government offices and
important sites. Most of the government as well as private office buildings are using electric air
conditioning system which are expensive in one hand and harmful for the nature as well as
contributing more pollutant in other hand. In these circumstances, the motivation of the project is
to bring the useable area of government office rooftop under sustainable green coverage. If this
project can be implemented, the temperature of the respective buildings is expected to be reduced
at least 2 degree Celsius in summer season. The overall, ecological balance of the area is also
expected be normalized eventually.

Conceptual framework
Rooftop gardens are man-made green spaces on the topmost levels of industrial, commercial,
administrative and residential structures. They may additionally be designed to develop produce,
supply clean air, provide shade, color and shelter, or decently be there as a living, green area. In
perspective of horticulture rooftop gardening can be divided as extensive gardening and intensive
gardening. In case of extensive gardening low maintenance, low cost, shallow soil is required. But
in case of Intensive gardening high maintenance, high cost and deep soil is required in order to
support heavy and shadow giving trees. For this project we will adopt a hybrid system of
gardening. In this aspect, moderate soil depth is required to support medium heavy trees for both
fruits and shadow purpose. Irrigation and maintenance are occasional in this case as most of the
trees in this features require less maintenance. Thus, use of maintaining personnel will be minimal
and the operational cost of the garden will be moderate. We will use a combination of fruits,
shadow giving, flower as well as vegetable trees. Proposed tree plants are exhibited in following
table:

Shade and flowers Fruits Vegetables

Arica pump Mango Brinjal

Indian Banyan Papaya Tomato

Hibiscus or JOBA flower Guava Capsicum

Frangipani or Kathgolap Lemon Strawberry

Neem Banana Chili

Ashoka Amla Dragon fruits

Bougainvillea, magnolia, Pomegranate, Malta, orange

Rose etc. etc

Literature review
Air is a life sustaining precious natural resource. Fresh air is one of the most indispensable gifts of
nature without which human will not survive. And human activities can be interfered by the
pollution of this vital resource. It is only in recent times that mankind has become aware of the
extent to which this interference is sustainable (Rahman, M. and Muyeed, A. 2005).
Begum, B., Hopke, P. and Markwitz, A. (2013) explained that, In Bangladesh, particular matter
(PM) is the air pollutant that is most harmful to public health and the environment when compared
to other measured criteria pollutants. government of Bangladesh has been working to reduce the
PM emissions by introducing lower sulfur fuel, improving the mobility of vehicles, and
introducing new technology which is still under consideration for brick production. Ergen, M.
(2016) elucidated that environmental aspect is one of the key important issue for any urban area.
A city can be considered as a smart city when the environmental aspect of the city is efficiently
managed through better pollution management, enabling green building and enforcing renewable
energy. In terms of environmental management most of the major cities of Bangladesh has failed
to manage environment in such a way that can make the cities livable as the enough green coverage
has not been build yet to alternate the ever-increasing air pollution and temperature rise.
Urban agriculture specially rooftop gardening can play a significant role in reducing air pollution
as well as temperature of cities like Dhaka by introducing green surrounding in the bustling cities.
This policy has the potential in conservation of biodiversity in the city as well as contribute to the
food security of the city dwellers (Chowdhury et al, 2020).
According to Safayet, M. et al (2018) ,with the pace of urbanization built-up areas are increasing;
hence supply of roof space is also increasing. Rooftop farming can provide solution to increased
food demand and also can promote a sustainable and livable city. Local fresh and safe food can be
ensured through roof gardens in Dhaka city. Thus The production of fresh fruits and vegetables
of the rooftop garden can increase nutritional status of household members of the urban citizens
and it will make a positive contribution to the environment (Jamal, 2016).

Methodology
▪ For data collection both primary and secondary method will be used
▪ For primary data key informant interview, interview with experts and focused group
discussion among government authority will be conducted.
▪ For cost benefit analysis secondary data of similar project will be used.
▪ Conventional soil culture method will be used for gardening. Existing tubs and drums of
the ofices will be used along with project facilitated instruments available in the garden to
cultivate vegetables, fruits, flowers and other types of plants.
References
• Chowdhury, M.H., Eashat, M.F.S., Sarker, S., Purba, N.H., Habib, M.A., Sarker, P.,
(2020). Rooftop gardening to improve food security in Dhaka city: A review of the present
practices. International Multidisciplinary Research Journal 2020, 10: 17-21.
• Safayet, Mastura & Arefin, Md & Hasan, Md Musleh Uddin. (2018). Present practice and
future prospect of rooftop farming in Dhaka city: A step towards urban sustainability.
Journal of Urban Management. 6. 10.1016/j.jum.2017.12.001.
• Uddin, Jamal. (2016). BASELINE STUDY ON ROOF TOP GARDENING IN DHAKA
AND CHITTAGONG CITY OF BANGLADESH Enhancing Urban Horticulture
Production to Improve Food and Nutrition Security (TCP/BGD/3503).
• Ergen, M. (2016). Sustainable Urbanization. Croatia: Intech.
• Begum, B., Hopke, P. and Markwitz, A. (2013). Air pollution by fine particulate matter in
Bangladesh. Atmospheric Pollution Research, Volume 4, Issue 1.
• Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 82.
• Air quality in Dhaka (2022). IQ air.
• Okvat, H. A., & Zautra, A. J. (2011). Community gardening: A parsimonious path to
individual, community, and environmental resilience. American Journal of Community
Psychology, 47, 374– 387.