Urban Risk Reduction Approaches in Bangladesh

Abstract

AbstractAsia-Pacific region is one of the most “at risk” parts of the world and eventually its cities are the hub of the risks. The underlying reasons for this high risk are rooted in the rapid urbanization. A majority of Asia’s urban growth will be in seven developing countries, which includes Bangladesh as one of the countries having rapid urbanization pace. The rate of urbanization in Bangladesh is over 25 % and the growth rate is more than 3–5 % per year. Similar to the most other bustling cities in Asia cities in Bangladesh are growing along the river-bank, low-lying marshy lands, mining or industrial hubs and steep slopes. Inevitably these cities are emerging as hub of disaster risks. Urban growth and disaster risk are statistically correlated. Disaster risks in urban center are compounded due to unplanned urbanization and unregulated growth in disaster prone marginal areas. Unplanned and uncontrolled urbanization is exacerbating environmental problems and disaster risks in cities of Bangladesh. More than 60 % of urban population lives in four main cities in Bangladesh and Dhaka alone accommodate one-third of urban population and produces 60 % of national GDP. Therefore, disaster in urban areas has severe national consequences in Bangladesh. Eventually, disaster risk reduction from the cities should be the key issue for ensuring overall development of Bangladesh. Unfortunately, like many other countries, in spite of having risk factors, risks and vulnerability to disaster are largely under estimated in urban development of Bangladesh. As an attempt of disaster risk reduction in urban Bangladesh this paper intends to diagnose both geological and climate related urban risks in Bangladesh. At the same time it aims to examine the existing risk reduction tools and approaches initiated by Government and civil societies in urban areas of Bangladesh.KeywordsClimate and disaster resilience indexCommunity participationDhaka’s riskPopulation growthUrbanization