Sustainable Urban Design

**337**

**Chapter 29**

**Abstract**

project, local people

**1. Introduction**

Involuntary Relocation Process of

Local People Due to Private Land

Development Projects: A Study of

Eastern Fringe Area of Dhaka City

The relocation process of local people due to private residential land development projects is one of the growing concerns in Dhaka City, the capital of Bangladesh. Although relocation is a complex issue, this study has unfolded the process of local people relocation in the Eastern Fringe Area of Dhaka City. This study has selected four renowned housing projects from four different real estate and land development companies such as Ashiyan City, Green Model Town, United City, and Pink city. A number of indicators were studied to get information about the relocation process that have been gathered from literature reviews, discussions with experts, and field survey. Approximately 3920 families were identified as relocated families from these project areas. It has been found that four actors such as land developers, middleman or muscleman, local officials, and local people played a vital role in land transformation process. The study concluded that "Thayer Scudder's Four-stage Framework Model" can be applicable for initial planning and development stage of housing projects, and government should prepare specific

**Keywords:** Dhaka city, eastern fringe, involuntary relocation, land development

Real estate and land development projects sometimes require involuntary relocation of local people from their living or working place. This type of relocation left affected people no option but to rebuild their lives, incomes, and asset bases elsewhere known as involuntary resettlement [1]. Multiple factors behind involuntary dislocation are natural disasters; ethnic, religious, or political conflicts; and development projects [2]. But the process that follows this relocation should be well identified to formulate adequate policy and purposive actions and to reduce the negative effects of relocation. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh is experiencing high rate of urbanization. Private sector is significantly involved in land and housing sector development in Dhaka city. About 77 private land developer companies are registered with RAJUK (The Capital Development Authority of Dhaka) under Private Residential Land Development Rules, 2004 and these companies land

*S.M. Shah Mahmood and Md. Moynul Ahsan*

guidelines for the relocation process of local people.

#### **Chapter 29**
