No more unplanned development of city

A World Bank-sponsored international conference yesterday underscored the need for planned development of the upcoming new city on the eastern fringe of Dhaka.

The unplanned growth of Dhaka city has made it one of the world's most messy and dense cities with unprecedented congestion, said Qimiao Fan, the World Bank country director.

A well-planned east Dhaka could boost productivity and liveability, helping to relieve congestion in the rest of the capital. But with business as usual, doubling Dhaka would only double the current mess, he said.  

“Dhaka's growth has taken place without adequate planning, which resulted in a city with poor liveability and vulnerability to disasters.”