V. City Report

Chittagong (Bangladesh)

Mr. A.K.M. Rezaul Karim
City Planner
City Planning Department Chittagong City Corporation

Bangladesh is a very green country and is full of resources. It has gas, oil, and is full of water, with 6 percent of the world's drinkable water. Most of this comes from the Himalayas.

There are six major cities in Bangladesh. There are problems in Dhaka regarding unplanned developments, leading to much pollution. But Chittagong is clean and green, with many hills. It has received the Prime Minister's award for being the cleanest city. There is a river, and Chittagong Port is a very important port for the economy, though it also adds to the pollution.

Chittagong has the longest beach in the world, a 22km beach along the sea, but it needs more planning for it. It also has the largest mango forest in the world, and has done recent planning to protect it.

Chittagong, established in 1863, experienced major growth before 1975 and then even more until 1992. There are 41 wards in the city, and the mayor is elected by the people. It has 155 square kilometers and a population of 3.6 million. The river and bay are controlled by the city.

The city has huge agricultural resources and doesn't have to depend on other cities. There are also many foreign companies, mostly in the Chittagong Export Processing Zone.

There is a land use plan in effect, though the city has planned residential areas, unplanned residential areas, and commercial and industrial areas. We are now taking measures to prevent pollution of the river.

Life in the city is marked by some unemployment, some poverty, and squatter developments that also lead to increased pollution. These are mostly poor people from rural areas, and because there is no infrastructure where they are living it results in a polluting drainage system.

We are working against unauthorized hillcutting. There is a highly prestigious area along the river. Coming soon to this area is a five-star hotel and an international trade center.

The water system supplies 90 million liters per day, collected from the river, and 80 million liters per day from underground sources. Only 20 percent of the water is for industry. Our target is to supply water to 84 percent of the population by 2010.

There is a large canal system in Chittagong. Because of hillcutting, drains fill with silt and areas become inundated. We have four rivers becoming silted because of unplanned hillcutting. We are now dredging those rivers and installing silt traps.

A sewage system is being planned but doesn't currently exist.

The literacy rate is 56 percent. The average monthly income is $400. A bottle of water costs about 20 cents (U.S).