COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN KHULNA CITY: EMERGING PROBLEMS IN CONTEXT OF REGULATORY ARRANGEMENTS

Abstract

Commercial activities are major characteristics of the urban areas. In the developed countries commercial establishments arranged with a planning manner that guided by the urban planning proforma. But in the country like Bangladesh where natural development prevailing all over the urban areas commercial establishments are haphazardly developing without any planning manner. As a result, congestion on the through fare, environmental hazards dominating through this type of development. Locational importance of the commercial establishment increases the business performances and healthy living environment. Different type of commercial establishments may be viewed in the urban areas of Bangladesh with different type of structural condition and building materials. Such difference presents building heights, locational criterions, uses of the premises and importance of the goods transacted. It also varies according to the importance of the area, land value, population density, accessibility and government control. The urban area where governmental control is efficient and rigid the scenario is quite improved there. Market, shop, office, godown, service centre, etc. may be considered as commercial establishments. But the contemporary regulations could not include all type of commercial developments. Therefore, a large number of developments are continuing their activities without the prior approval of the government. The prescribed regulations, which are enforcing by the authorities, are out dated. Enforcement procedures are also in primitive system. In consideration of the entire scenario, it may be said that the problems available with the commercial establishments are due to the lack of appropriate regulations and disputed enforcement procedures by the government. The study emphasizes on the contemporary regulatory arrangements related with the physical development rather than commercial transaction of the establishments. Present scenario, role on the urban development, involvement of the regulations, problems on the enforcement procedures of the commercial establishment is the major elements of this study. A guideline also prescribed according to the problems identified through this study.