Dhaka: Dynamic

but Messy
Toward Great Dhaka
A New Urban Development Paradigm Eastward
Source: www.worldbank.org
About Dhaka City

Area: 306.38 sqkm

South City North City

corporation corporation

Annual GDP: $213.3 Billion

Population: 23,210,000

Source: www.macrotrends.net
 About Dhaka City

Growth Trends  Occupies 1% of total

City
country land
 1974-1981: Growth 10%  Cultural & Political
Centre
 Till 2018: Growth 15%
 Economical Hub
Population
 Growth rate 3-4 % yearly

Source: www.macrotrends.net
Largest urban
agglomeration 4 Dhaka Bangladesh 23,210,000
s worldwide-
2023

Source: www.macrotrends.net
 About Dhaka City

Greater Dhaka as a
Growth Engine of
Bangladesh

Source: Toward Great Dhaka; 2017

 Success Story of Dhaka City

Locational Advantages

Historical Side Topography Today’s Dhaka

 This region was part of the  Land area above the high-  Connected by the Grand Trunk
district of Bikrampur under the water mark Road to northern India, Central
Sena dynasty.
Asia, and Chittagong.
 Surrounded by different rivers
 Later became part of
 Introduction of railways,
Sonargaon, the regional  Transportation advantage including Dhaka-Narayanganj-
administrative hub of the Delhi
Mymensingh and Assam-
and Bengal Sultanates.
Bengal
 Mughals established their
 Envisioned as a connecting
capital there in 1610 for its
node between South Asia and
advantageous elevated position
East Asia.
in a low-lying area.
Source: Toward Great Dhaka;
2017
 Success Story of Dhaka City
Locational Advantages

Dhaka is at
the
intersection of
emerging
transport
corridors
 Success Story of Dhaka City

Agglomeration Economies

Factors 80 percent of Country’s

Annual Household Income-2016 garment Factories
4284 Economic Hub
Household Income ($)

3360
Textile and RMG Industries
2448

Labor Pool

Knowledge Sharing
Dhaka CC Other city Corporation Bangladesh

Income per capita growth 2-10 Percent in Urban Services

Dhaka City

Source: Toward Great Dhaka; 2017

 Success Story of Dhaka City

Self-selection

Economic Education And Networks and

Opportunities Knowledge Connections

 Nearly 70% of the

Population are migrants
Urban Amenities
 36% are for Job

Source: Toward Great Dhaka; 2017

 Success Story of Dhaka City

Slums are poorer than

the rest of Dhaka, but
less poor than rural
areas

Source: Toward Great Dhaka; 2017

 Critical Challenges in Dhaka City

Flooding

 Dhaka is prone to water-related

hazard

 Unplanned and Unchecked

expansion of built-up areas

 Drainage System
 Critical Challenges in Dhaka City

Congestion
 Mixed Traffic
Lane Operation

 Poor
establishment of
road hierarchy

 Average
Driving Speed
4km/h

Source : Article, Dhaka Tribune-2022

 Critical Challenges in Dhaka City

Messiness

 3.5 Million people living in

slums

 11th largest City in

population

 2nd most polluted city in the

world

Source: Toward Great Dhaka; 2017