From a town to a megacity: 400 years of growth

Abstract

The continued expansion of Dhaka means that within the next 20 years, it will become one of the most populated megacities in the world. Considering the importance, to its development, of understanding the nature of its pattern of growth and evolution, we examined that growth over a period of 400 years. The dynamics of Dhaka’s urbanisation along with its trajectory over this period are discussed in this chapter. The pace of urbanisation was found to be increasingly rapid after independence from Pakistan in 1971. This rapid pace has caused a number of multifaceted problems, including severe environmental degradation. Issues associated with the urban planning process in Dhaka have been reviewed along with the major plans developed over the past 65 years. The chapter concludes with a critical and comparative analysis of those plans.