An Analysis on Influencing Factors of Rural Housing and Settlement Pattern in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is a country with natural resources though it is the densely populated country having numerous numbers of villages and in which 93.51% of the total areas are comprised of rural areas. In rural settlements, the fundamental changes are authentically an outcome of the transformation of urbanization and various factors are associated with the emblematical changes of this settlement. The objective of the study is to determine and analyze the most operative factors beneath the changing housing condition and settlement pattern, which illustrates the socio-economic characteristics in the rural area. The study conducted in Dhaminkaur and KhordKaur villages of Baghmara Upazila, Rajshahi with the help of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools i.e. key informants’ interview, transect walk and direct observation throughout the study area. Household questionnaire survey was conducted by random sampling of 102 households during July 2016 to August 2016. Geographic Information System (GIS) has been applied to see the decadal change in settlement pattern in the year between 2003- 2016. According to the study, a significant change has noticed in the housing settlement pattern in the last 13 years. Influential factors behind the housing condition and reason for changing condition have been identified. Main reason for changing conditions are: increase in income and migration rate, variation in income source, and Reduction of joint family. The application of “weighted index method” in the research shows the value of the average condition of the household is 13.67 which indicates the housing condition in the study area is Moderate. Basically, the research demonstrates the most influential factors which affect the changing condition and settlement pattern in rural housing to achieve the better quality of life in Rural Neighborhoods.