The World Bank has called on Bangladesh to overhaul its urban planning and investment strategy to align development spending with the country’s shifting economic geography and boost job creation.
In its latest Bangladesh Development Update, the Bank said the government must adopt “spatially oriented planning” that recognizes the different needs of regions across the country. The report urged the use of spatial data such as night-time light intensity and transport connectivity to guide future Five-Year Plans.
Key recommendations include updating outdated metropolitan development plans for Dhaka, Chattogram and other major cities, developing sectoral master plans for transport, logistics and economic zones, and linking these to annual budgets.
The Bank also advised delegating more government spending to upazila offices to make project delivery more responsive at the local level. A coordinated, spatially balanced approach, it said, is vital for sustaining growth beyond Dhaka’s congested core.