Physical Density and Urban Sprawl: A Case of Dhaka City - KTH

CHAPTER 3
THE DEVELOPMENT OF DHAKA
In the preceding chapter, a theoretical frame work for analysing physical densities and spatial
qualities of urban housing blocks, informal settlements, and urban sprawl have been
presented. In this chapter the physical development of Dhaka city, urbanization in
Bangladesh and population growth of Dhaka city, factors influencing physical densities of
housing blocks, land use pattern of Dhaka as well as the location and characteristics of
informal housing settlements will be discussed.
3.1 Introduction of the study area
Bangladesh is a developing country with a large population of 130 million, making it one of
the densely populated countries in the world. Bangladesh, being located in a tropical region
has an average temperature of 24 °C to 38 °C. Rain with high wind is common and also is the
presence of high humidity. The country is divided into six divisions and each one contains
several districts, and at present there are 64 districts and 127 municipalities. The capital city
Dhaka and the port city Chittagong are the major target for rapid urbanization. Dhaka being
the capital and largest metropolitan city of Bangladesh with its employment opportunities and
other commercial activities has attracted the largest number of migrants from all parts of the
country.
Bangladesh had been ruled by Mughal, British and Pakistani rulers before independence.
Urbanization in its proper sense started in Bengal with establishment of British administrative
centers (particularly, the district headquarters) and development of business centers on the
banks of large rivers. The process, however, did not bring much change of previous house
structures and their styles. Houses in the newly developed townships used almost the same
materials as in the surrounding rural areas and yet, changes started showing soon. These
houses were constructed usually in rows and blocks and many of them were built by
following European architectural design such as one storey bungalow. The new phenomenon
of the city was the growth of informal settlements, especially around industry centers and for
the people migrating from rural areas in search of jobs and earning opportunities. Buildings
in some areas adopted the designs of Muslim architecture and in many places the influence of
typical Indian structures of the Mughal period could be seen in abundance (World
environment day, 2005).
3.2 Physical development of Dhaka city from 1700 till 1995
Dhaka has grown from a small settlement within the confines of the river Buriganga and
Dholai Khal to today’s mega city. The physical features, topography and demographic
features of Dhaka City have always influenced its physical expansion. During the Mughal
and British regime, political importance and trade played significant roles in the city’s growth
and expansion. The block types have grown up according to the functionality of the houses
inside the block.
Before Mughal period (before 1604) Dhaka was a small Hindu trading center. The spatial
data of Dhaka city before Mughal period is lacking. But it is evident from different
documents that the areas to the east, northeast and southeast of Babur Bazar up to the Dholai
Khal on the left bank (northern bank) of the Buriganga formed the old town.
In the Mughal period (1604-1764) the expansion to the west and the north was significant;
with the fort in the centre the expansion to the west followed the riverbank and the city spread
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