Mass exodus of internal migrants to urban centres has led to unplanned urbanisation in Bangladesh. A recent study has found that 69 per cent of the country's urban population is concentrated in its eastern part comprising three divisions -- Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet, pointing to a regionally imbalanced urbanisation. Cities and towns in the western part comprising four divisions -- Barisal, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur -- are not only smaller but also growing more slowly than those in the eastern part, said a study commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Of Bangladesh's four largest metropolitan areas, Khulna and Rajshahi may actually have lost population, the study found. The proportion of the population living in urban areas was only 9.0 per cent in 1974, which stood at 28 per cent in 2011. Bangladesh's population is projected to increase by some 39-53 million over the next 30 years until 2046, it said.
According to statistics, some 60 per cent of urban people live in the country's four cities -Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi. If the present trend continues, Dhaka city will be the sixth largest mega city in the world in 2030. What is really a matter of great concern is that the total urban population is becoming increasingly concentrated in the vicinity of the capital city of Dhaka. According to the UN estimates, Dhaka had only one-tenth of Kolkata's population in 1960, but it passed Kolkata by 2005. Unfortunately, the urban poor have not been well covered by social protection programmes.
The reasons for the concentration of the internal migrants in the eastern region are not far to seek. Compared to the western region, the eastern part has certain vital urban facilities, such as natural gas, electricity, transport, credit and markets.
Experts say that the more Bangladesh is getting better off, the more persistent is becoming its stunting, malnutrition, poor hygiene condition, and water and sanitation, particularly among the urban poor. Former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed says the poverty scenario in urban areas is different from the rural areas. It is a major challenge for different agencies concerned to include the urban poor in the social protection programmes. Experts have called for establishing an accountability mechanism for city corporations, municipalities and various other agencies and ministries, engaged in the urbanisation process, along with empowerment of the local government institutions.
Migration flow to the megacity of Dhaka has reached a critical level. The government needs to ensure quality education and health facilities in other cities and towns so that migrants find those places also as equally attractive.
To stem the flow rural migrants to the metropolitan cities and towns, non-farm activities like establishing industries - small and medium enterprises to be exact - needs to be stepped up in rural areas. But then for this to happen, rural roads are to be paved and metalled while uninterrupted power supply is to be ensured.
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