Sustainability of Development Trends in the Urban Fringe: A Case Study on North-Eastern Dhaka City

Md. Shakil Bin Kashem; Prof. Dr. Roxana Hafiz

Md. Shakil Bin Kashem Lecturer Department of Urban and Regional Planning Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Dhaka-1000
Prof. Dr. Roxana Hafiz Department of Urban and Regional Planning Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Dhaka-1000

Keywords: Sustainability, Sustainability appraisal, Urban fringe area Development

Abstract

Various tools and mechanisms are being developed for appraising sustainability both at the local and global levels.
This study tried to formulate a mechanism to appraise sustainability using Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) at the local
scale. It selected the north-eastern fringe area of Dhaka to appraise the sustainability of development trends there.
Three main spheres of sustainable development, i.e. environmental, social and economical sustainability were taken
as Primary Tier Criteria (PTC). Under these PTC 28 Secondary Tier Criteria (STC) were selected. These STC were
weighted using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) under their respective PTC. Two sites within the study area (one in
the inner fringe and another in the outer fringe areas) were selected for determining the overall sustainability level of
the area. This sustainability level was measured in the form of Generic Sustainability Level (GSL). The result showed
that, the study area is in a negative state of sustainability. The main reason was pinpointed to its deteriorated
environmental condition caused by the ongoing unplanned development works there. Although the study area has
experienced some progresses in its social and economic sustainability spheres, its highly negative environmental
sustainability situation has rendered it in a negative state of sustainability. Through analysis of the results, this study
proposed some actions that can promote sustainability in the whole study area.