The Problems due to Unplanned Urbanization in Dhaka city

 

Dhaka city is the world’s 9^th largest city and the capital of Bangladesh however, the infrastructure of this city is unbearable. In spite of having a population of 10.2 million, there is no proper planning of the buildings, residential areas etc. As a result, it has caused a great problem to the everyday life of people from all classes.

One of the main problem which this has caused is traffic jam. Those who travel within Dhaka city are very familiar to this. What happens is that many a time due to unplanned urbanization and use of low grade materials the road becomes badly damaged as a result, the cars, buses, trucks etc. cannot travel through that road. They need to use alternative roads and in those road other vehicles are also travelling. But due to the addition of these vehicles in that road, the pressure in that road increases i.e; the traffic I that road increases.  This one example how traffic jam is caused in Dhaka City due to unplanned urbanization.

Another problem that has occurred in Dhaka city due to unplanned urbanization is pollution. Pollution in Dhaka city has other external factors but urbanization also plays a vital role. Firstly, due to urbanization a lot of bricks, cements etc. materials are used and in producing these elements a lot of pollution takes place. Again, this bricks, rocks are broken into pieces before using. This breaking of bricks and stones cause noise pollution, air pollution, soil pollution and we should be concerned about this because the big thinkers of the world are worried about the future of the Earth.

Slums is another result of unplanned urbanization in Dhaka city. Since Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh, people from all over the country settle down here for a better livelihood. But it doesn’t become a piece of cake for everyone because of the expenditure and other stuffs which Dhaka burdens to its inhabitants. So everyone cannot afford a suitable house for living. What these people do is find the empty areas of Dhaka city and all of them begins to live there in a very pathetic way. This defames the image of the city as well as the nation.

Accidents are also caused by unplanned urbanization. After a certain amount of time period the construction workers come and begins to dig the roads but the way they work is way dangerous for the public. Several incidents had occurred in the past that due to heedlessness of WASA has caused people (specifically children) has lost lives. Again during rainy season many motor bikers suffer from accidents to the extent that some has lost their lives. What these construction workers do is that they keep the work partially done and during rainy seasons due to rainfall the drivers or riders find difficult to drive and they become the victims of road accidents.

Speaking of rainy season, water clogging is very common in Dhaka city and this also happens due to unplanned urbanization. As mentioned earlier that the construction workers who are titled to repair the roads of Dhaka city completes their works partially. So there are holes like structures in most of the streets of Dhaka city. During rainy season when it rains cats and dogs these holes are filled with water. In places like Moghbazar, Malibagh etc. the water clogging is so much that the roads turn into water canals and boats can be used. This water clogging is a problematic for the general pedestrians. These water is a good source for mosquito breeding and these mosquitos brings us diseases like dengue, chikungunya, malaria etc.

Also many manmade disasters like fire outbreak, building collapse etc. are caused due to unplanned urbanization.

In conclusion, what I mentioned so far is just a tiny summary of what kind of problems occur in Dhaka city due to unplanned urbanization. It is high time we  raised our voices against it and save the city where we live.