A POLICY APPROACH FOR CONTROLLING THE INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN A MEDIUM SIZED TOWN OF BANGLADESH: STUDY OF MYMENSHINGH TOWN

Md.  Ashraful Alam

doi:10.53808/KUS.1999.1.1.13-19-se

Authors

Md. Ashraful Alam Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53808/KUS.1999.1.1.13-19-se

Keywords:

Policy; Informal settlements; Slums; Housing; Mymenshingh

Abstract

It is revealed that a large segment of the urban population of Bangladesh does not have access to serviced land and consequently they live in the Informal Settlements. Various studies show that they are somewhat better off in terms of employment and income in urban areas compared to their previous position in rural areas. They work in the informal sectors and the informal sectors have substantive contribution to the urban economy. It is observed that about 80.5% of the households build their houses on the publicly owned land including the railways’ lands. A Slum Improvement Project (SIP) is being implemented in Mymenshingh by Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and some NGOs are also working in the study areas. But no significant changes have been observed so
far in respect of housing problem mitigation and income generation of the households. The present study recommends provision of land for the landless people and also proposes to strengthen institutions of local involved agencies in formation of a committee. This paper also suggests some policy guidelines which may generally be applicable for all medium sized towns of Bangladesh.

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