Dhaka: Improving Living Conditions for the Urban Poor
Report Summary:
(June 28, 2007) Dhaka is the fastest growing mega-city in the world. Annually, the city draws an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 mostly poor migrants who provide critical employment for the city’s industries and services. Urgent measures are required to address the vital needs of the rapidly growing urban poor.
Facts: -Poverty affects a third of Dhaka's residents mostly living in slums. -Adequate access to shelter, basic services, and a living wage are major challenges for the poor. -Crime and violence have become a major problem in Dhaka, particularly affecting the poor. -The institutional deficiencies in Dhaka impede effective city management and poverty concerns.
The demand for workers and services in the growing industries of Dhaka has prompted large scale migration from rural areas for better opportunities. The migrants contribute to the city’s economic development by providing necessary labor to manufacturing and services. This has, however, also put pressure on the city’s infrastructure, public services and habitable land. This study reflects a comprehensive analysis of poverty in Dhaka focusing on understanding the characteristics and dynamics of poverty, issues of employment, land and housing, basic services, and crime and violence. This study aims to provide the basis for an urban poverty reduction strategy for the Government of Bangladesh, local authorities, donors, and NGOs.
This chapter presents an overview of poverty in the Dhaka Metropolitan Area based on data from several sources: i) Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2000; ii) Slum Observatory Survey (2002) by Aparajeyo-Bangladesh; iii) 2005 spatial mapping by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED); and iv) qualitative data on the perceptions of poverty carried out by Rashid and Mannan in 2004.
This chapter presents analysis of the characteristics of the labor market and links with the poor, with potential areas for policy change. The analysis is primarily based on the 2000 Labor Force Survey which covers the Dhaka Statistical Metropolitan Area (DMA) and the periphery area.
This chapter covers the main land and housing policy issues in Dhaka, with a focus on the effects these policies have on the poor. Section I covers the main policy issues of land and housing prices, the national housing policy, and institutional roles. Section II presents main policy constraints and Section III outlines recommendations aimed at improving the functioning of these markets.
Chapter 4: The Challenges of Service Delivery for Dhaka's Poor
This chapter focuses on the current challenges of service delivery for the poor in Dhaka, and the range of constraints faced by service providers. Information is drawn from in-depth structured interviews with approximately 20 representatives from Government, NGOs and Donors working in the field of service delivery to the urban poor.
This chapter presents some of the main manifestations of crime and violence in Dhaka- particularly as they affect the urban poor - by presenting the findings of a victimization study carried out in four Dhaka slums for this study. It also briefly examines some of the social, institutional, and legal aspects to the crime and violence situation in Dhaka.
- About the study (0:49s) mp3 audio - What are the implications for quality of life on Dhaka's further urbanization? (0:52s) mp3 audio - One third of Dhaka's population is poor. How does this compare with the rest of the country? (0:27s) mp3 audio - What do we know about the living conditions of the urban poor? (0:40s) mp3 audio - Most people come to Dhaka for jobs and better services, how do the prospects for the future look? (1m:00s) mp3 audio - Dhaka's poor are willing to pay higher for services than the wealthy. Why? (1:28s) mp3 audio - On widespread crime and violence problem among Dhaka poor (1:14s) mp3 audio - What needs to be done to improve things? (2:07s) mp3 audio - How would such a strategy be implemented? (0:37s) mp3 audio
More Resources on Bangladesh
World Bank Program Website maintained by the World Bank Office in Dhaka, a launching pad to all information on World Bank activities in the country (strategy, projects, publications, etc.)
Development Data A wide range of social and economic measures on Bangladesh, including links to the World Bank's most important online development databases.
Analysis and Research Compilation of all the World Bank's publications on Bangladesh, with 'search' options and links to analysis and research on other South Asian countries.
World Bank Program in South Asia Launching pad to all information on World Bank activities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
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