Dhaka disproportionately urbanised in rural Bangladesh: discussion

The Centre for Urban Studies honorary chairman Professor Nazrul Islam on Saturday said that Dhaka was disproportionally urbanised in comparison to other cities in Bangladesh.

While delivering his lecture on past, present and future urbanisation in Bangladesh at Dhaka University, the University Grant Commission’s former chairman Nazrul said, ‘Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet are among the old historical cities but not properly developed in comparison to Dhaka.’

Nazrul said that Dhaka was on its way to transform itself into a metacity from a megacity as its population would cross 2.5 crore by 2030 though only 28 per cent of total population of Bangladesh was living in the urban areas.

National Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury chaired the seminar organised organised by Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation.

University of Asia Pacific vice-chancellor Jamilur lamented that Dhaka was the worst liveable city in the world despite the disproportionate urbanisation.

He said that a building code remained in draft for last 10 years while construction was undergoing violating laws.

He said that Bangladesh might face food insecurity in near future if farmlands were lost to urbanisation.

‘A master plan of the country is essential than a master plan for a particular city,’ said Jamilur.

He said that the government should strictly stop environment pollution and take pragmatic steps for the planned development of the country.

The foundation’s director general Professor Ahrar Ahmad said that people were aware that the poor inhabited illegal slums but not aware that the rich occupied the big portion of the wetland and government land.

The lecture was the second in the second session of lectures organised by Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation as part of its regular activities.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net