BANGLADESH is moving towards rapid urbanization, but this process is being conducted in a completely unplanned and Dhaka-centric manner, which poses a major threat to the country’s economy and development.
A recent joint study by the Policy Research Institute (PRI) and the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) reveal that this Dhaka-oriented hyper-urbanization is causing a loss of 6 to 10 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) every year.
According to the study, this statistic is not just a simple number, but a deep economic wound that is slowing down our development journey. The problem is not just economic, but it is also weakening our backbone socially and politically.
It further says that just as the capital’s performance is declining due to excessive Dhaka-centricity, human productivity is also declining due to traffic congestion, pollution, and inadequate civic amenities.
The report also states that instead of investing in the country’s district cities, the focus is only on developing Dhaka’s infrastructure, which is by no means the right decision.
Bureaucratic complexity, the old landlord mentality of land management, and the lack of decentralization of political power are the main obstacles to planned urbanization. Instead of decentralization, power has further been centralized, resulting in citizen benefits not increasing.
We believe that to overcome the situation that this city faces today due to lack of political vision and shortsightedness, we must take real, practical initiatives, not just on paper. We must not only invest in the infrastructure development of Dhaka, but also ensure citizen amenities in other cities of the country, especially district cities. The local government structure must not only be given responsibilities, but also power and resources.
Emphasis should be placed on the formation of a unified, decentralized city government that is transparent and accountable. It is important to remember that decentralization of economic and political power is essential for the overall growth of the country.
Unfortunately, these issues are often neglected. If political parties do not reach a consensus on this issue, important agendas such as planned urbanization and decentralization will remain limited to paper and pen.
It is now well understood that unplanned and Dhaka-centric urbanization has imposed an invisible burden on the country’s economy. And to get rid of this burden, it is very important for us to adopt a clear national urbanization policy.
Along with this, decentralization of power must be ensured by strengthening local governments. Otherwise, this city will gradually turn into a wasteland and this country’s promising economy will fail to achieve its full potential.
