Dhaka: Common resources are spread too thin

Dhaka is ranked the world's 5th fastest growing city with an average growth rate of 56.5 per cent in the last decade and 6.2 per cent annual growth.  This figure does not necessarily consider transient or temporary urban dwellers or climate migrants.  Moreover, Dhaka has one of the highest population densities in the world.  In order to accommodate this surging population, quick construction and cursory planning efforts have been undertaken.   Dhaka makes up less than 0.6 per cent of the landmass of the country but provides resources for nearly 12 per cent of the entire nation's population.  Dhaka is the core city of convergence in Bangladesh, intaking the most number of migrants, housing the most number of permanent residents, and contributing the most to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Bangladesh is a highly economically centralised nation.  Despite the presence of several urbanised areas for economic development, Dhaka remains the main hub for industry and national growth.  For this, Dhaka is overpopulated, overburdened, and underserved.   Common resources are spread too thin as the need is so great due to the large population.  
Cities serve as centres of industry, concentrated residences, and concurrent areas for commuting.  The role of the urban environment has become critical to national development; therefore, urban development should be embraced as a sustainable function.  Isolating key functions of cities can be useful for identifying the top strategies for city planning that is in accord with the emerging sustainable development agenda.  
Decentralising industry and livelihood will promote more nationally distributed economic equity and equal regional growth while decreasing concentrated environmental afflictions.  Boosting regional industries as well as decentralising national-level industries can promote more equal municipal economic growth, increase range of skills among all citizens, reduce economic motivated migration, and create a more unified development for reaching middle-income country (MIC) status. Vision 2021 of the present government identifies this key indicator for national development.  
It is important to note, decentralised industry is not the same as decentralised economy.  Simply put, decentralising industry will in fact fortify the central economy.  Improving Gross Municipal Product among various national cities will create greater contribution to GDP while improving other indicators for growth and development, including increased education and skills development, improved livelihoods, improved capacities for health facilities, and strengthened regional economies.
Through regional economic development, better urban planning, improved infrastructure, and effective environmental policies can be implemented on a unified national scale.  This improved urban planning will include improved transport systems, more efficient energy use and less industrial waste, improved national telecommunications, and less strained public services.  
Reaching MIC status by 2021 will require strategic economic decision making bolstered by sustainable urban planning.  It is projected that half of the population of Bangladesh will be urban dwellers by 2035.  This is a trend not to be ignored or neglected; it must be addressed now as an opportunity for positive national development.
Although the tragedy of the commons is an ongoing struggle, the use of the commons (resources) by the national population can be more regionally spanned for unified development and regional prosperity as well as promoting economic sustainability.  Regional investments and decentralised industry, accompanied with continued progress for fulfilling sustainable development goals, will reflect in positive social, environmental, and economic achievements.

The writer is Associate Coordinator of Eminence Associates for Social Development.
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