Dhaka Profile

City Growth: Area & Population

Year Periods Population Area (sq. mile) Source

1600 Pre-Mughal Un Known 1 Islam, 1974
1608 Pre-Mughal 30,00 2 Asaduzzam & Rob, 1997
1700 Mughal Capital 9,00,000 50 Taylor, 1840
1800 British Town 2,00,000 8 Taylor, 1840
1867 British Town 51,635 8 Census, 1901
1872 British Town 69,212 20 Asaduzzam & Rob, 1997
1881 British Town 80,358 20 Asaduzzam & Rob, 1997
1891 British Town 83,358 20 Asaduzzam & Rob, 1997
1901 British Town 1,04,385 20 Asaduzzam & Rob, 1997
1911 British Town 1,25,733 20 Census, 1911
1921 British Town 1,68,510 20 -
1931 British Town 1,96,111 20 -
1941 British Town 2,95,735 25 -
1947 Capital of E. Pakistan 2,50,000 25 Census, 1951
1951 Pakistan Period 3,35,928 28 Census, 1951
1961 Pakistan Period 5,50,143 28 Census, 1961
1971 Bangladesh Period 16,79,572 40 Asaduzzam & Rob,1997, BBS
1974 Bangladesh Period 17,72,434 40 Census, 1974
1981 Bangladesh Period 24,75,710 62 Census, 1981
1986 Bangladesh Period 44,64,262 62 Census,
1989 Bangladesh Period 55,00,000 155 BBS
1991 Bangladesh Period 61,05,160 360 sq.km. Islam-1991, BBS- 1991
2001 Bangladesh Period 84,00,000 360 sq.km. BBS, 2001

Source:
 • Taylor, 1840 and rest from the census of Bengal, East Pakistan & BBS.
• Islam, Nazrul, From City to Megacity, 1996.
• Ahmed, Sharif Uddin, DHAKA: Past Present Future, 1991.
• Asaduzzaman and Abdur Rob, Urbanization of Dhaka City, 1997.

DHAKA AS THE CAPITAL OF BANGLADESH (SINCE 1971)

After the independence of Bangladesh on December 16, 1971, the city’s population rose suddenly to
about 15,00,000 and in 1974 it was about 16,100,000 (Census of Bangladesh, 1974). The
urbanization activities have been achieving tremendous growth for the needs of the newly
independent country’s capital. The city began to expand in all directions including over the low-lying
areas on the eastern side, such as in Jurain, Goran, Badda, Khilgaon, Rampura, and in the western
side, areas like Kamrangirchar, Shyamoli, Western Mohammadpur, Kallyanpur through the earth
filling (Chowdhury, 1991). In 1995, The new Master Plan for Dhaka was prepared for the further
development of Dhaka City. As very rapid urban growth along with the fast increase in population and
structural development started to take place in the city, this new structure plan was a must. The
population had leapt to 3 million within one decade of the independence of the country and the city
covered an area of about 70 sq. km. in 1980. The swamps and wetlands of the city started to
disappear fast. New areas of residential, administrational, business and commercial importance began
to develop. At the same time, numerous slums and unplanned low-income residential areas or
squatters also grew up in different areas of the city. Keeping pace with the magnitudes of these urban
growth, the new urbanized areas were being encroached in the low-lying areas in the city and even in
some of the adjacent distant areas.
Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment
Questionnaire

1. What is the current trend and past trend of urban environmental quality in your city? How are the trends being monitored/
recognized? ( Please attach data, description or both)

Dhaka is emerging as a mega-city and this trend generates numerous economic and social externalities and social costs such as
deterioration of environmental quality, increased pollution and congestion . The increased demand on utility services lead to
concerns on the quality and quantity of services provided by government agencies. Dhaka city is beset with a number of socio-
environmental problems. Traffic congestion, water logging, solid wasted disposal, black smoke from vehicular and industrial
emissions, air and noise pollution, pollution of water bodies by industrial discharge, all these are Dhaka City`s regular problem.
The city of Dhaka has a long history of development since its founding as a Mogul capital. It was made the capital of all Bengal
for a short time during the British period. After the partition of India it became the capital of the then East Pakistan. During this
period the city started expanding and in 1971 the Dhaka was becoming the capital of the independent Bangladesh. The city
population has increased tremendously over the past three decades , posing enormous environmental problem. Dhaka was a
small city of only 3.5 million population in 1951. It is now a megacity of over 9 million people. The average growth rate has
decreased from 7% to 2% but the urbanization rate has been exceeded to 6%. In the past the city was clean, the air was fair to
breathe , fewer traffic and the river was the main way to transport and lifeline for attraction . The city has experienced with
performing very important economic and commercial activities and thus suffered with environmental degradation.

Environmental concern in Dhaka city.

a. Air pollution

Air pollution is now a common complaint in Dhaka City. Mostly the exhaust from the vehicles plying on the city streets is
responsible for air pollution. Black smoke coming out from the discharge is intolerable to breathe. It burns eyes and throat. The
city dwellers are being slow poisoned by lead concentration in the city air- ten times higher than the government safety limit. The
total load of Suspended Particulate Matters
( SPM) and harmful gases ( CO, HC, NOx, SOx) in the Dhaka air is reportedly worse than in many cities of the industrial world.
The Environmental pollution report ﾁ f98 of the Department of Environment (DoE) describes that Suspended Particulate
Matter(SPM) in the air ranges between 1000 and 2000 microgram, four to five hundred percent higher than the acceptable level.
The highest acceptable level of Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is 60 microgram per cubic meter of air . But it has been recorded at 300 to
500 microgram in Dhaka. Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission reports that automobiles in Dhaka emit 100 kg lead, 3.5 tons
SPM, 1.5 tons Sulphur dioxide, 14 tons hydrocarbon and 60 tons carbon monoxide a day.

Pollutant by vehicle type Emission Estimates ( %)

TSP NOx CO HC SOx
2 wheeler-2 stroke 6.7 4.8 14.1 9.7 6.0

2 wheeler-4 stroke 0.6 0.2 6.1 7.5 9.05

3 wheeler-2 stroke 64.5 1.6 38.6 49.5 7.07

( Baby taxis )
Large tempos-2 stroke 7.4 0.2 4.4 5.7 0.9

3 wheeler- 4 stroke 0.3 0.1 2.8 3.5 4.4

4 wheeler-4 stroke 15.6 11.2 33 22.7 14.1

( cars )
Buses 2.2 51.4 0.6 0.8 36.4

Trucks 2.8 30.4 0.3 0.6 21.4

( Draft mission report ﾁ f1998 – Air quality Management, Policy and vehicle emission control, World Bank, Dhaka)

The DoE has made an effort to develop air quality standards as well as standards for vehicular emissions .
Ambient Air Quality Standards
( Concentration in micrograms per cubic meter)
Area Category SPM SO2 CO NO2
Industrial and mixed use 500 120 5000 100
Commercial and mixed use 400 100 5000 100
Residential and Rural 200 80 2000 80
Sensitive 100 30 1000 30

Vehicular emission standards

Parameters Unit Standard Value
Black smoke Hartridge Smoke Unit (HSU) 65
CO gm/km (Percent volume) 24 (4)
Hydrocarbon (HC) gm/km (ppm) 2 (180)
Oxides of Nitrogen gm/km (ppm) 2(600)

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority(BRTA) has restricted the registration on two stroke three wheelers. A consultative
meeting organized by the World Bank in association with Department of Environment( DoE) and the Bangladesh Government
came out with a few important recommendations – a) Phasing out of the use of leaded petrol as soon as possible
b)Stopping of issuance of new licences and route permits of three wheelers with two- stroke engines and phasing out the existing
2-stroke engine-powered three wheelers.
c) The sale of loose lubricants should be stopped to prevent adulteration
d) The use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in vehicles should be promoted.
e) The big gaps in the prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene should be removed to prevent adulteration.
As part of Government policy , to reduce pollution and traffic congestion several commercial transport services Special
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation(BRTC ),Premium Bus, Big commercial Buses ,Maxi and Taxi services have already
been introduced in public and private sectors in the last few years.
Government has already taken decision to offer financial incentives( reduction of registration and renewal fees) for converting
four stroke automobiles using petrol and diesel to CNG . The DoE under its Bangladesh Environmental Management
Project(BEMP) has converted a few auto-rickshaws into CNG.

b. Water Pollution.

The City of Dhaka is expanding rapidly. The greater Dhaka is located within the Buriganga, Sitalakhya and Balu river system.
These three surface water sources around Dhaka directly or indirectly receive a large quantity of waste from the city. The river
Buriganga flows by the side of the densely populated area of the old city. Dumping of waste to the river by the members of
public owners of the industries is rather indiscriminate. Large and small scale industries are located on both banks of the river.
Again innumerable municipal drains carrying sewage and sulllage find their way into it. The indiscriminate discharge of
domestic sewage, industrial effluents, open dumping of solid wastes are becoming a great concern from the point of water-
environment degradation.
There are serious environmental problems in terms of river water quality arising out of dumping of municipal wastes and toxic
industrial discharges from industries on its bank, especially from the tanneries of the Hazaribagh. The development of residential
as well as industrial establishments discharges untreated effluents and raw sewerage make the river anaerobic. Active source of
methane and CO2 emissions consequently is destroying the aquatic life. A substantial amount of drinking water for the city
comes from Buriganga it at the same time acts as a reservoir of all the wastes. Buriganga receives hazardous wastes and
effluents from 200 tanneries and 330 industrial units located on its bank.
Illegal encroachments on the banks as well as into the river are narrowing the channel and thus reducing the flow capacity. If the
present situation continues it might turn into a narrow sewer. People have built hanging houses on the river and made illegal
settlement. Open defecation of the settlers causes fecal coliform levels alarmingly exceeding the accepted limit. The very high
organic loading , minimal light penetration with water temperature above 30º C and large inputs of raw sewerage pose a major
health hazard to the users. The BOD loading in the Buriganga river is 550 mg/l , fecal coliform count in excess of 1,000,000/100
ml

c. Flooding and water logging :-

Rainfall induced flooding and water logging due to poor drainage system is a common phenomena in Dhaka City. Unplanned
growth, indiscriminate filling of low lying areas, unwise closer of natural drainage and navigational canals, unauthorized
encroachment by squatter settlements aggravate the worse situation of flooding and water logging in Dhaka City. Water logging
is causing deterioration of the quality of surface water, which in turn trickles down into soil thus causes leaching underground
water and getting pollution . This also produces various water and air borne diseases and causes mosquito menace.
d. Industrial Pollution.

Industrial pollution has reached a serious level due to unplanned establishment of industries and lacking effluent treatment
system. Dumping of untreated solid and hazardous wastes from industries is destroying the fauna and flora, the eco-system of the
adjoining areas, contaminating surface and ground water, spreading odor and putting public health at risks. About 1200
industries in Dhaka generate and release tremendous amount of toxic and hazardous waste, contributing greatly to environmental
degradation. These industries are dyeing and printing, textiles, tannery, metals, cement, rubber, plastic, fertilizer etc. The
Tanneries and textile mills discharge highly toxic and hazardous effluents like chromium, cadmium contributing to
environmental degradation. The tanneries are discharging 16,000cu.m/day and other industrial discharge is 12,000 cu.m /day.

e. Solid Waste disposal and Sewerage

Solid waste and its management are a great concern in Dhaka city. About 4000 to 4500 tons of solid wastes are generated daily,
only half of the generated wastes are disposed of in low lying area in an uncontrolled and unscientific manner. The waste
collection system in Dhaka City is inadequate. It is associated with the problems of littering on roads, spilling around the bins,
clogging of drains by street sweepings and polyethylene bags, indiscriminate dumping on vacant plots that causes serious
environmental degradation and affect in public health. The present land filling practice is an environmental disaster, causing
health risks from different vectors diseases along with air, surface water and ground water pollution . Rapid decomposition of
mixed refuse in temperate humid climate causes odor, nuisance, abnoxious conditions and hazards in surrounding areas.
More than 500 hospitals and clinics generate and release hazardous and toxic wastes without any treatment. These health care
establishments are generating 15 tons of wastes daily of which 2 tons are infectious and dumped straightway to open municipal
bins.
Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority( DWASA) can serve only 15 to 20 percent of the city population at the optimum. In
absence of the sanitation and infra- structural services 40% having septic tank and soak pit, 15% using pit latrines and 30% using
open latrins. The sewage is mostly released into the low lying areas and sometimes into river water in a untreated manner
causing great environmental hazards.

f. Sound pollution

Sound pollution is another health hazard causing fatal diseases – from deafness to heart attack. The hydraulic horns used by
buses , trucks and scooters in the crowded city streets are harmful audible power. According to WHO , generally 60 DB sound
can make a man deaf temporarily and 100 DB sound can cause complete deafness. But the sound of the noise of a busy in
Dhaka has been estimated at 60 to 80 DB , sound of vehicles 95 DB, scooter or motor bike 87-92 DB and truck/bus 92-94 DB.
The desired sound measure is 45 DB in city , 20-35 in hospital during night. When sound exceeds this limit , it becomes
hazardous ,that can destroy our audible power and can even lead to the losing of one ﾁ fs mental balance.
According to Department of Environment the standard of sound –

Areas Day time Night time

Peaceful areas 45 DB 35 DB
Residential areas 50 DB 40 DB
Mixed areas( Res+Com+Ind) 60 DB 50 DB
Commercial areas 70 DB 60 DB
Industrial areas 75 DB 70 DB

A survey made by DoE has found that sound pollution has increased in Dhaka City in an alarming manner.

Areas Day time ( DB) Night time( DB)

Residential area 75 80
( Dhanmondi)
Hospital areas 69 80
( Dhaka Medical)
Industrial area 67 75
(Tejgoan)
Commercial area 79 83
( Motijheel)

Government has taken decision to ban use of hydraulic horn in vehicles and cancel registration of such vehicles using this type
of horns that cause sound pollution.
g. Polyethylene bags –the hazard

The Polybag has become environmental nuisances for its widespread use and unplanned dumping . Polyethylene bags - the peril
can be seen - on the street, into drain and sewerage system , ditches, open fields and everywhere. One can find hem hang on
trees, overhead cables, float on ponds, canals, river and scatter at around. People use polyethylene bags massively for the reasons
that – it is very cheap and easily available and it is water proved. Use of polyethylene causes environmental and soil degradation
leading to loss of agricultural fertility. It also blocks up the city drainage and sewerage systems, causing water logging which
help the spread of harmful microbes and bacteria and that may give rise to epidemics.
Medical experts say that the prolonged use of polyethylene may causes cancer, skin diseases and other health problems. These
hazards are multiplied when it is used to package bread, biscuits, potato chips and other food items. Hydrogen cyanide, a
poisonous gas, is produced when polyethylene is burnt in open space and in landfills. It may cause health problems to the people
who work in the polyethylene industries.
Polyethylene has very adverse effect on soil. It is not decomposed when polyethylene or plastic comes into contact with the soil,
the beneficial bacteria for soil fertility are killed . Consequently soil becomes less productive. Water cannot dissolve it. It thus
clogs the drains and sewerage and causes water logging. According to a study conducted by Environment and Social
Development Organization (ESDO) , one person collects six polyethylene bags everyday and throws away four of them. Nearly
6 million used polyethylene bags are discarded in Dhaka City everyday. Government is taking plan for phasing out the
environmentally hazard product, imposition of high tariff on the raw materials of polyethylene to discourage production and use
of polyethylene. Government has finding out through different NGOs to find out alternatives to polyethylene. Public awareness
should be raised against the use of polythene through the demonstration of ill- effect of polyethylene on human health and
environment.

1. What are the major environmental problems in your city ( to be listed in order of priority)

(a) Solid waste disposal

(b) Air pollution
(c) Water pollution
(d) Industrial pollution

2. What kind of measures are being implemented or will be implemented to address the urban environmental issues in the
following categories:
(a) On site actions
i. Projects
 Community based urban solid waste recycling program ( UNDP funded)
 CNG conversion of petrol and diesel run vehicles ( ADB funded)
 Conversion of two stroke auto-rickshaw into four stroke powered engine ( CIDA funded).
 Chrome recovery pilot plant for the treatment of tannery waste ( UNIDO funded)
 Public awareness program against the use of polyethylene ( Bangladesh Govt.)
 Urban transport and Environment Improvement study( TA project by ADB-BRTC)
 Air Quality Management Project ( World Bank funded)
 Save the Buriganga project
 Dhaka urban transport Project ( World Bank Funded project)
 Saidabad surface water treatment project( French govt.- World bank-Japan govt.)
 Dhaka Integrated Flood protection project ( ADB funded)
ii. Policy and laws
 National Environmental Policyf1992
 Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Actf1995
 Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rulesf1997
 National Policy for safe water supply and sanitationf1998
 National Environmental Management Action Plan ( NEMAP)
 National Agendaf21
iii. National Committees
 National committee for formulation of integrated environmental guidelines

(b) Municipal / local government level initiatives

 Environmental Improvement Project
 Urban primary health care project( ADB funded)
 Dhanmondi lake improvement project

(c) National government initiatives

 Waste to Energy program( Review stage)
 Installation of Catalytic converter and Diesel particulate filter
 Save the Buriganga river program ( CIDA funded Feasibility study)
(d) International assistance and initiatives
 Inventory, vulnerability assessment and mitigation of Green house gas emission
 Phasing out of Ozone layer depleting substance

(e) Private sector participation, Public-private partnership, participation of the civil society, NGOs.

4. What are the major challenges and /or barriers that your city is facing in improving the urban environment ?

(a) Institutional and regulatory barriers-

Ineffective policy and regulation
Insufficient enforcement mechanism
Lack of coordination
Low level of education
Lack of expertise and professional
Lack of governance ( accountability and transparency)
(b) Lack of appropriate and modern - piloted, proven , cost-effective and sustainable technology
(c) Inadequate finance and proper financial accounting system
(d) Low level of public awareness and participation

5. What environmental related infra- structure exists or is planned in your city?

Dhaka City Corporation
(a) Solid Waste Treatment
 Solid waste disposal landfill – crude dumping in 39 acres of land , planning for sanitary landfill with the assistance and
support from external agencies in two 50 acres of land.
 Solid waste is transported by open, closed and tipping trucks. Planning for procurement of modern and appropriate waste
transporting trucks through external assistance.
 Waste to Energy project is being examined by the government for its technical, financial and operational viability
 Government is planning to treat the bio-medical waste by incineration or plasma technology or any other suitable and
affordable technology.
Dhaka Water supply And Sewerage Authority ( DWASA)

Sewerage /Waste water treatment plant-

 Sewerage treatment plant- One sewerage treatment plant with a capacity of 120,000 cu.m /day , length of sewer line- 635
km, sewerage lifting station-23, sewerage connections about 45,000, serviced area 30%., Daily generation- 10,40,000 cu.m.
Sewerage treatment- 20%, Septic tank- 40%, Pit latrine- 15%, Open defecation- 25%
 Waste water is discharged through storm sewer line( 190 km), Box culvert ( 6.5 km), open channel( 47 km) into the river
without any treatment .
Annual generated waste water- about 56 crore cu.m, Storm water- about 23 crore cu.m, Sullage water –about 33 crore cu.m
Surface drainage- 15,000 km and 4 waste water pumping station.

Department of Environment ( DoE)

Industrial waste treatment

 Department of Environment is the authority to give environmental clearance for setting up new industries. Only a few
industries have treatment facilities of their effluents. Most of the industries are discharged the effluents directly into the river
without any treatment. Daily tannery waste generated in Dhaka about 16,000 cu.m and other industrial waste about 12,000 cu.m.

6. Who is involved in implementing urban environmental plans and programs in the city? What are their roles?

For providing environmental services, monitoring activities and enforcement of legal actions, a number of organizations are
involved in various capacities, with overlapping jurisdiction and lack of coordination.

Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Responsible for providing all civic facilities, keeping the city clean, maintaining city roads
in a state of good repair.
Dhaka Water And Sewerage Authority (DWASA) Responsible for providing potable water to city dwellers, carry sewage
through various means and dispose them safely.

Department of Environment (DoE) Responsible for implementation of Environmental Policy ﾁ f92, execution of
Environmental conservation Act ﾁ f95 and Environmental Conservation Rules ﾁ f97 and monitoring of ambient environment.
Responsible for checking emission standards set for automobiles and providing environmental clearance for industries and
development projects.

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Responsible for issuing fitness certificates and registration of vehicles and
thus controls the smoke emission.

Department of Police Responsible for enforcement of various environmental standards related to road transport & traffic
management.

Media, NGOs, Civil society Motivation and awareness, publicity, advocacy, participation
Private sector Business

7. Please list some of your city ﾁ fs successful urban environmental policies/programs/ projects?

The successful piloted urban environmental projects are-

(a) Community based urban solid waste recycling program
(b) CNG conversion of petrol and diesel run vehicles
(c) Conversion of two stroke auto-rickshaw into four stroke powered engine.
(d) Chrome recovery plant for the treatment of tannery waste

Policies and programs

(a) National Environment Policy and Action Plan in 1992 with a view of maintaining natural ecological balance and ensuring
sustainable development of the country through the development and conservation of the environment.

(b) Following the Environmental Policy, government has taken up broad-based and cross-sectoral nature of environmental issues
into ﾁ eNational Environmental Action Plan (NEMAP) which is prepared and consulted with an intensive participatory process.
As part of the NEMAP, an action programme Sustainable Environmental Management Programme (SEMP) is in progress.

© Following the Chapter 28, of the Agenda-21, Bangladesh has prepared National Agenda-21 with the aim of promoting the
national environmental issues and development activities ensuring sustainability.

(d) For the implementation of the environmental policies and action programmes, Government has enacted ﾁ eEnvironment
Conservation Act ﾁ f1995 with legal framework and status.

(e) For operationalizing the Act, the ﾁ eEnvironment Conservation Rules ﾁ f97 for the purpose of providing environmental
clearance and maintaining environmental standards has been formulated.

8. What kind of external assistance is needed to improve the urban environment ?

(a) Technical assistance projects

(b) Investment projects

9. Further comments-

Various organizations are involved in the management of city environment. It misleads the coordination and cooperation. The
management of the city environment would be effective if an independent body / board will co-ordinate, monitor, implement the
urban environmental projects and programs. The city needs some expertise in the field of environmental management and that
can be done through technology transfer, exchange visit, sharing knowledge from best practices and capacity building through
benchmarking and performance evaluation program.
10. Contact information

Country : Bangladesh City : Dhaka

Organization: Dhaka City Corporation Head of the Organization : Mayor of Dhaka

City
Contact persons ﾁ f name : 1) K.M.Nurul Huda
Chief Executive Officer
Nagar Bhaban
Dhaka City Corporation
Tel- 88-02-9563510, Fax- 88-02-9563514
E-mail- ceodcc@agni.com
2) Tariq Bin Yousuf
Environmental Engineer
Nagar Bhaban
Dhaka City Corporation
Tel- 88-02-9345048, Fax- 88-02-8322760
E-mail- tby@bangla.net