Rajshahi is the fourth largest city in Bangladesh located in the northern region. It has a population of around 475,000 people and gained status as a City Corporation in 1987. There are several development agencies working in Rajshahi with overlapping responsibilities including the Rajshahi City Corporation, Rajshahi Development Authority, and others. The first master plan for Rajshahi was developed in 1968 by the Urban Development Directorate and the most recent plan called the Rajshahi Metropolitan Development Plan was prepared in 2004. This plan took a GIS-based, tiered approach to development. However, challenges remain around coordination between agencies, adequate infrastructure and services, and attracting more investment and development to the city.

1. Welcome
Ahmmad Zaman Tariq
Urban Development Specialist
Bangladesh Municipal Development Fund
Dhaka, Bangladesh
aztariqmt@yahoo.com, www.bmdf-bd.org

2. Introduction
Rajshahi is the fourth largest metropolitan city
located in northern region of Bangladesh.
Became administrative headquarters in 1825
Gained municipal status in 1876 during British
reign and finally achieved the status of City
Corporation in 1987.
Secondary Town in urban Hierarchy

6. Introduction
Rajshahi town has an area of 96.69 sq. km. But
the City Corporation has 48.06 sq. km.
No of wards (smallest administrative units) : 30
Population : In RCC area
383,655 (2001),
449,786 (2011),
475,465 (2014).
Growth rate
1.6%

7. Introduction
Population Density : 9,893/sq.km in RCC
Primary Urban Function
Divisional Headquarter
Administrative
Educational
Health
Trade of agro products
Urban Land Use
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Residential
(33%)
Agricultural
(19%)
Vacant land
(11%)
Education
(11%)
Water body
(12%)

8. Urban Management
No. of autonomous development agencies
RDA
RCC
DPHE
LGED
BWDB
UDD
WASA

9. Urban Management
Having functional overlapping
Lack of coordination among these agencies
Lack of legal documents and charter of duties
Wastage of resources
Avoiding of responsibility

10. Planning Initiatives
UDD took first initiative for developing
Rajshahi city in 1968
UDD took another initiative in 1984
RDA has prepared Rajshahi Metropolitan
Development Plan (RMDP) in 2004
Other agencies also take short term
infrastructure development plan

11. Salient Features of RMDP
First GIS based planning initiatives having different tiers
Strategic Plan
Structure Plan (SP) or General Development Plan
Functional Master Plan
Detailed Area Development Plans (DAP)
The plan focused on some key issues
Optimum use of land and land use zoning
Low rate of investment & urbanization
Adequate revenue generation to local government
Lack of coordination among implementing government agencies

12. Salient Features of RMDP
Planning Instrument followed in the plan
Regulatory Instrument e.g. permission of construction, guided land
development, land use zoning, conservation of agri-land etc.
Financial/Investment Instruments such as site and services plan
(SSP), specialized detailed area plans (SDAP)
Awareness/Behavioral Change Instruments such as
detailed area plan (DAP)
Growth direction
NORTH
WEST EAST

13. Opportunities
Educational city. 40% of the population are student,
may further accommodate more educational institutes,
research centers etc.
Scope of development of service industries.
Plenty of suitable land for development, low land value,
rich agricultural hinterland
Low cost of labour
Pollution free environment
Quick and easy intercity communication
Low cost of living

14. Challenges
Low rate of investment, low rate
of urbanization
Lack of quality water supply,
drainage facilities, SWM
Lack of uninterrupted power
supply and low voltage,
absence of adequate gas supply

15. Challenges
Functional overlapping, lack of coordination among development
agencies, absence of Coordinating Body
Lack of adequate revenue generation to local government
Improper financial management, limited financial and
administrative powers of both RCC and RDA
Weak local government, outdated legal framework
Large areas of unused and unserved vacant land
Threat of flood and erosion

16. Conclusion
Integrated development of city and its peripheral areas
Coordination among all city-level development
& service providing agencies
Promotion of effective partnership with civil
society and private sectors
Increase public awareness
Ensure the good urban governance
Stop political interfere and influence of power full groups
Increase of skilled manpower in plan implementation agencies

17. Thanks for listening!