Paper short abstract:

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. This paper explores the changing patterns of Dhaka in terms of area and population density and the major causes and consequences of this development pattern.

Paper long abstract:

Bangladesh is a developing country located in South Asia with an area of about 147,570 km² and a population of 142. The two urban giants in Bangladesh, Dhaka and Chittagong, are home to almost half of the country's urban population. Dhaka is the capital as well as the primate city of Bangladesh. The population density of Dhaka is 7,324 people per sq. km. in the metropolitan area and 18,055 persons/ sq. km. in the inner core of the city in 2001 (BBS, 2001), and is among the highest in the world. This creates extreme pressure on land for living and also contributes to severe traffic congestion, environmental degradation and strain on utilities and infrastructures as well as other facilities. The current trend of urbanization, industrialization and agglomeration of other economic activities in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, attracts huge immigrants each year from other parts of the country. Population growth due to natural increase and migration is contributing towards the increased population density and intensification of the built environment in Dhaka. In the past decades Dhaka has been developed along the axes towards the north of Dhaka. Capital Development Authority (RAJUK) caters for the physical planning and development control within its jurisdiction through Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP). Changing pattern of Dhaka in terms of area and population density and the major causes and consequences of this development pattern have been presented in the paper.