Analyzing the Relationship between Planning Theories and Affordable Housing Provision Practices in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

With rapid urbanization and urban growth, Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, is struggling with providing affordable housing for the inhabitants with the limited resources available. This paper examined the role of all the stakeholders and the impact of stakeholder's coordination in the governance practice - whether it is enabling the practice to succeed or failing it. It also explores the perspective of increasing informality and lack of housing in Dhaka city in addition to how the lack of knowledge and power imbalance contributes to that growth rate. The investigation was performed by analyzing the role of laws and regulations (rules and how authorities are using those) that are either encouraging or limiting the availability of formal living spaces in the city. In conclusion, this paper tried to evaluate the purpose of planning and the role of planners in ensuring the stakeholder participation in housing provision, especially for the marginalized inhabitants of the city and how that practice would relate to the contemporary planning theories.

Keywords: Dhaka, affordable housing, informality, structural inequality, urban housing