| Author | Ferozuddin, Mohammad |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-86-07 |
| Subject(s) | Rural development--Bangladesh
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| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | In Bangladesh, the programme to promote about 400 "Upazila" (sub- district) centres has theoretically increased the possibilities of more equitable and even distribution of development benefits. Preparing physical plans for the centres is also a positive step in order to have well- organized and efficient urban places at the much needed lower tier of the urban system. But how valid the theoretical concept may be, the biggest question is whether it will be possible for a country like Bangladesh to plan, finance, manage a programme on such a huge number of centres. The programme is likely to be hampered because of the severe lack of funds, lack of educated and skilled manpower and also difficulty in extending urban development on agricultural land due to very low land-man ratio. Against such limitations the UZ programme appears very much ambitious. The present study intended to explore the plan preparation process in order to assess the proposals made for the UZ centres under such unavoidable realities. In addition to the review of a representative sample of 20 plans and a number of related documents, an interview was conducted with a number of experts associated with the programme . The main findings of the study were that the plan preparation process: is inappropriate due to the misconceptions, unrealistic assumptions, unaffordable standards; does not take care of the national need of conserving agricultural l and from other uses; does not recognize the limitations of resources - the funds, manpower, institution, to implement the plans. As a result the plans prepared so far are not the ones really needed and they have a marginal chance of getting implemented. Based on such findings the study calls for a rather radical change of approach which places resource identification before embarking plan preparation. The logic is very simple. What will be planned is going to be implemented. It also recommends: formulation of national human settlement hierarchy with identification of the development policies for different levels of urban centres; national land use policy to protect scarce agricultural land from misuse vis a vis affordable standards for urban areas. The study strongly recommends that due to limitations of resources of all kind the programme has to be phased out in a manner to get the prepared plans implemented. It also outlines the possible measures on specific issues to improve the plan preparation process. |
| Year | 1986 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kammeier, Hans Detlef |
| Examination Committee(s) | Archer, Raymon W. ;Tips, Walter E. J. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Canadian International Development Agency - Broad Based Development Programme (CIDA- BBDP) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1986 |