TITLE:
Do Peripheral Development Increase Vulnerability? Case Study from Dhaka, Bangladesh
AUTHORS:
Anisur Rahman, Chaweewan Denpaiboon, Sultana Ashrafi, Fatema Tuz Zahra Oyshe
KEYWORDS:
Urbanization, Rapid Development, Marshy Land, Disaster Risk, Dhaka
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.11,
October
12,
2022
ABSTRACT: Due to rapid urbanization, the pattern of land use
is being changed in the fast-growing cities especially in the developing
countries. In most cases, development is taking place without proper guidance, increasing disaster
risk may arise from different hazards. As a
result of haphazard development, damage and loss increasing gradually
where a number of cities in the developing countries had to face adverse
situation. This paper focuses the rapid development trend of Dhaka City. Being
the central attraction of national investment,
the city is experiencing fast development vertically in the inner areas
and on the marshy lands towards urban fringe. Building code is not being
followed properly, leading to fragile construction. There are incidents of
building collapse even without effect of any hazard. Moreover, a number of
housing estates being developed on recently in-filled low laying areas. The
development on marshy land is highly vulnerable to earthquake liquefaction
effect and flood that increasing the risk in the newly developed areas.
Therefore, the rapid development on marshy land in the periphery should be
considered for effective urban planning. The paper explores the trend and
reasons behind spatial expansion of the city and its effect to natural hazards. Case study approach was adopted,
investigating details of two peripheral areas of the city. Increase in
Housing Estate is most notable change that happened due to population growth
and land price during past decades. Weaknesses in execution of existing acts,
rules and Master Plan give clear indication of the gaps in guiding the development
properly. The research concluded with the challenges to deal with environmentally
compatible development. It requires a number
of changes and restructuring in specific areas for environment friendly
development in this regard. Based on the conclusion, several recommendations
are made to address the existing problems emphasizing amendment of Acts and
Rules, completion of Master Plan, formulation of new Rules and development of
policies for urban fringe areas.