Plans for a \\\'mega city\\\' in Chittagong

Bangladesh demonstrates a low sign of urbanisation even in the 21st century. Although the existing urban facilities - distribution of urban centres by size - offer an opportunity of building urban conglomerates like in developed countries. The Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has made an imaginative proposal to turn Chittagong into a 'Mega city'. A trans-national corridor along the Dhaka-Chittagong belt is also necessary to facilitate the urban development of Chittagong plus the maximisation of regional trade with India and Myanmar.
Nevertheless, the future of Bangladesh relies on a vision - a blend of urbanised localities and rural-agricultural areas. A zoning of agricultural lands, along with its maintenance, must be ensured. In addition to land management, the forests, hills, water bodies and wetlands require genuine conservation. Given that Bangladesh is burdened  with an extremely large population, the need for high-density settlements, including the urban types, is paramount in every sense.
Due to the density and close proximity to Chittagong, small municipalities and rural habitats in the districts of Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Khhagrachhori, Bandarban, Feni and Comilla will eventually assume a metropolitan character. The massive urbanisation can unlock limitless economic possibilities in these areas such as the agro-industries and tourism. Prosperity of Bangladesh depends on a pragmatic mixture of urbanisation and rural development.
Nabil Azam Dewan
Lalmatia, Dhaka
nabil.dewan@gmail.com