Neighborhood segregation in Dhaka

Abstract

ABSTRACT Dhaka’s rapid urbanization, income inequality and unplanned growth have brought this megacity to international attention. Although limited elements of ethnoreligious segregation are prevalent in the city, a general concern in the existing literature is that the city is failing to provide distributive justice to its citizens. This paper explores the current socio-spatial division of Dhaka city to understand its patterns and underlying causes. The paper uses the isolation index ( x P x ), Moran’s I (I) index and location quotient (LQ) to understand the pattern of segregation in Dhaka. At the same time, the local indicators for spatial association (LISA) contribute to recognizing clustering patterns in this city. In the context of limited national census data on urban services, this study triangulates its findings through geospatial analysis of existing census data, interviews, and field observations. Results suggest that the eastern part of the city is segregated because of poor urban service conditions. Small clusters of affluent neighborhoods are emerging in Dhaka, whereas enclaves of isolated neighborhoods with inadequate housing and service situations are evident at the city core. Limited housing supply, geographic constraints, elitist planning, the concentration of investment in the city core, budgetary limitations, and management failure have resulted in the isolation and clustering of neighborhoods with poor living conditions. In its conclusion, the paper cautions that segregation requires more policy focus and calls for policy interventions to address the underlying causes of segregation in Dhaka.