Unbridled urbanisation
An unprecedented number of people are migrating to Dhaka and a few other eastern cities while western cities and towns are witnessing a low or negative population growth due to an inequitable distribution of the benefits of economic development, according to a study by the UNFPA. Dhaka is the worst hit by this unplanned and continuous urbanisation with more than 10 percent of the entire population living in the capital city although it only makes up for 1 percent of the total land area. An additional 4 to 5 lakh people—roughly the population of Maldives—come to Dhaka each year to stay.
About 40 percent of the GDP is generated by the city. The per capita GDP of Dhaka is more than USD 10,000 while the national average is USD 1,200 to 1,400, according to some estimates. Everyone wants a slice of the pie. The other factor behind such a massive influx of people to Dhaka is the simple fact that we have yet to develop planned cities with modern facilities across the country.
Dhaka is expanding and the rate of expansion is increasing. But what are the opportunity costs? It has over the years become a city where every element of life—earth, water and air—has been severely polluted. Can the city host 17 million people providing them with adequate infrastructure and utility services?
Urbanisation is inevitable and entails the ways in which a society adapts to the population shift from rural to urban areas. The adaptation is what is missing. The status quo is untenable for much longer without political, economic and administrative decentralisation.
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