The Impact of Industrialisation on the Suburban Growth Process; The Case of the Greater Dhaka Region, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study has been undertaken to understand the role of manufacturing industrialisation on the suburban growth process in the Global South. The Greater Dhaka Urban Region (GDR) of Bangladesh has been studied as the case. The study followed a mix-method approach. The study found that Dhaka city is extending towards its periphery, and not only the proximity factors (distance from the core city and national highways) determine the urban growth distribution, but also there is a significant impact of the localisation of manufacturing job growth, particularly in strategic sectors. In the GDR, the suburban growth is migration induced, and garment sector plays a crucial role to attract the migrants to be localised in the suburban areas. Low skilled and low productive industry-driven growth produce a mix-use development dominated by the poor quality low-class residential and industrial uses. The impact of growth on the suburban land, livelihoods, infrastructure and environment found to be significant. It can be argued from the study that the negative externalities are intense in the suburban areas compared to the core city as they are having severe lack of infrastructures and services. Moreover, a lack of planning authority and land use regulations make the situation even critical