Published: 01:53 AM, 19 October 2026
Building Bigger Cities Is Not Enough: We Need Liveable Urban Management
Amir Mohammed Khosru
The success of a city cannot be measured by how large it is, how many people live there, how many high-rise buildings it has, or how much investment it attracts each year. A successful city is considered with the parameters like how liveable the city is, how safely and comfortably people can live there, how good its environment is, how effective its civic services are, and how well prepared it is for the future. All those are equally important issues for a successful city.
The publication of Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2026 has created an opportunity to reconsider the positions of Bangladesh’s cities. No city from Bangladesh is among the world’s top 500 cities. Dhaka, which ranked 482nd last year, has now fallen to 515th place. Chattogram ranks 763rd, Rajshahi 779th, Khulna 811th, Sylhet 834th, Cumilla 883rd, Mymensingh 895th, and Bogura 926th.
It would be a mistake to view these results merely as an international ranking. This is because the list has highlighted some weaknesses in our cities that we witness with our own eyes every day. Traffic congestion, air pollution, waterlogging, encroachment on footpaths, unplanned buildings, poor waste management, encroachment on canals and rivers, and inadequate civic services have become familiar features of urban life in our country.
Oxford Economics has evaluated 1,000 cities across 163 countries based on five indicators. The economy accounts for 30 per cent, human capital 25 per cent, quality of life 25 per cent, environment 10 per cent, and governance 10 per cent. Dhaka performs comparatively well economically, ranking 286th. It also ranks 178th in human capital. However, its position in the environment category is 930th. Weak performance in quality of life and governance has also pushed Dhaka outside the top 500 in the overall ranking.
Despite making progress in the economy and human capital, Dhaka has failed to become a good city. We do not have to look far to get the answer why Dhaka is outside the top 500 cities. We can understand much simply by looking at the person stuck in traffic for hours while travelling to work every morning. We can realize the reason for its position by seeing an ambulance carrying a patient to the hospital but trapped in traffic, roads submerged in water after rainfall, shops occupying footpaths, and a city covered in dust from construction work. All these reflect the reality of our urban management.
There is no denying Dhaka’s economic strength. A large share of the country’s economic activities revolves around this city. Dhaka is a major centre for banking and insurance, trade and commerce, corporate institutions, government and private offices, and educational institutions. A large proportion of the country’s young and educated population also seeks employment opportunities in this city.
However, this economic strength is failing to bring sufficient improvements to people’s quality of life. This is our major failure. A city may have many businesses, numerous buildings, and a large volume of financial transactions, but if people cannot walk comfortably, breathe clean air, or access safe public transport, it is difficult to call that city successful.
The weaknesses of Bangladesh’s cities are most evident in the environmental sector. Air pollution in Dhaka has now become an almost permanent problem. The quality of the air reaches alarming levels, particularly during winter. Vehicle emissions, construction activities, road dust, and the burning of waste in various locations have combined to make the very air that urban residents breathe a daily source of risk.
The condition of the rivers is equally concerning. The Buriganga, Turag, Balu, and Shitalakkhya rivers have long been suffering from encroachment and pollution. Yet rivers and water bodies are extremely important for maintaining a city’s natural balance. We have allowed rivers to be encroached upon, canals to be filled, and water bodies to shrink. Then, when waterlogging occurs during rainfall, we undertake new projects to address the problem. Instead of stopping the sources of the problem, we are merely trying to deal with its consequences.
We have an opportunity to learn from them. Well-developed cities do not simply build new roads; they also consider how people can travel in less time, at lower cost, and more safely. Footpaths for pedestrians are as important as roads for vehicles. Parks and open spaces are as important as buildings. Improving citizens’ quality of life is as much a measure of development as economic growth.
Another important aspect of this ranking is investment. How liveable, safe, and efficient a city is also influences the decisions of foreign investors. Investors do not look only at cheap labour or a large market. They also consider the transport system, electricity supply, communications, skilled workers, security, and quality of life.
The same applies to the younger generation. Why would an educated young person stay in a city if it does not offer good education, healthcare, a safe environment, and opportunities for a normal life alongside employment? If a city cannot retain its skilled people, its economy will also suffer in the long run.
Therefore, we must now decide: do we want only large cities, or do we want liveable cities?
The path to a solution is not difficult either, provided there is political and administrative commitment. We must take a firm stand on environmental protection. We need to control the sources of air pollution, remove encroachments from rivers and canals, improve waste management, and protect the city’s green spaces.
Public transport must be given priority. Building only new roads or flyovers will not provide a lasting solution to traffic congestion. We must ensure that people can use public transport easily and walk safely.
Local government institutions must be genuinely strengthened. They need adequate funding, manpower, and decision-making authority. At the same time, accountability must be ensured. Citizens should also be given greater opportunities to express their views on urban planning.
Most importantly, we must change our concept of development. Development does not mean only high-rise buildings, wide roads, or large projects. Development means whether a person can leave home in the morning and reach the workplace safely; whether their children have a playground; whether they can breathe clean air; and whether they can receive medical treatment promptly when they fall ill.
Oxford Economics’ ranking should therefore not be a source of humiliation for us, but an opportunity to become more alert. Rather than feeling disappointed that we are not among the top 500, it is more important to consider why we are not there.
We do not want cities where the economy thrives but people find no comfort. We want cities that offer not only employment opportunities but also clean air, safe roads, good public transport, open spaces, and dignity for their citizens.
Urban planning should aim to ensure that Dhaka’s air becomes clean again one day, that the Buriganga regains its vitality, that children can play in playgrounds, and that people can walk safely on footpaths. Because, ultimately, the true success of a city lies not in its high-rise buildings, but in how well the people living there are able to live.
Amir Mohammed Khosru is a banker
and a columnist.
