Bangladesh has a long history of physical planning. It started with blueprint-based master planning approach in the 1950s. Since the late 1970s, it has slowly shifted to the rational planning approach following the path laid down by the United Kingdom. Lately, infusion of the North American planning thoughts is observed. Thus, Bangladeshi physical planning never had its own identity. Structure plans are loosely tied to the other tiers of planning packages that are used for development management. Though most of the structure plans address environmental issues, lower tiers of plans often lack their reflection. Often policies are laid down based on popular belief rather than scientific evidence. To establish these arguments, the evolution of the planning practices of Bangladesh is illustrated briefly in the context of the evolution of planning theory. Additionally, environmental sensitivity of a physical plan covering one of the most ecologically sensitive and economically potential areas of Bangladesh, namely Mongla master plan (MNP) is evaluated, as an example, considering the spatial dispersion of sulfur dioxide to be discharged by the coal-fired thermal power plant at Rampal. Unfortunately, MMP failed to stand out from all the rest to prove its soundness.
TopIntroduction
As a country, Bangladesh has a long history of physical planning. Since the beginning of the 19th century, Bangladesh has traveled through several stages of physical planning. Bangladeshi plans started with the Master Planning Approach in the 1950s. Gradually it shifted towards Rational Comprehensive Planning (strategic planning) Approach. After the liberation of Bangladesh at 1971, urbanization triggered up in metropolitan cities and environmental issues started getting their much deserving attention among the urbanists, environmental activists, civil society, policymakers, and urban planners. As a response, in the 1990s, Bangladeshi plans started addressing environmental issues. These plans have been prepared under different names “Master Plan”, “Detailed Area Plan”, “Strategic Development Plan”, “Urban Development Plan” etc. Most of these plans are mainly criticized through mass media on three grounds, firstly, lack of public participation in the plan-making process; secondly, errors in the plan proposals which is also linked to the first criticism, and lastly, lack of ecological and environmental considerations. Lack of implementation of these plans is another ground that is, in fact, linked to policy formulation based on popular belief rather than scientific evidence, failure to translate policies spatially, lack of ownership of the plan among the stakeholders, etc.
Instead of learning from mistakes and act upon them, Bangladesh has been continuously trying to adopt westernized ideas. In doing so, Bangladeshi Planning is losing its own identity. In fact, Bangladeshi planning never had its own identity. Traditional patron-client networks, political instability, Westminster style of democracy, etc. are often held responsible for such stagnancy and non-adaptive nature of urban planning in Bangladesh (Khan & Swapan, 2013). Unfortunately, Bangladeshi urban plans failed to transform themselves from Technocratic to Sociocratic planning. Since 1950s, Bangladesh followed the planning culture of the United Kingdom (UK). More recently, infusion of the North American planning thoughts are observed.
According to Albrechts (2004), strategic spatial planning should consider “a limited number of strategically important issues, reactive to uncertainties, bridge the gaps among the competing values, critically analyze strengths and weaknesses in the context of opportunities and threats (both in terms of space and issues, present and anticipated future), acknowledge the resource constraints, be politically inclusive and participatory, be vertically integrated with higher-level plans, and incorporate provision for monitoring, feedback, and revisions”. All these issues are localized in nature. Thus, to justify the efficacy and soundness of a plan, one should not compare the same with other plans. Instead, one should take the theoretical underpinnings as primary point of departure, then considering local situation at the time of plan preparation and previous experience, one should evaluate a plan.
To validate these arguments, in the first part of the chapter, the evolution of urban planning practice of Bangladesh is illustrated briefly in context of the evolution of planning theory. Detailed and critical review of neither of these topics is within the scope of this chapter. Local-level planning (e.g., Detailed Area Plan, Action Area Plan etc.) is also not included, as it deserves special attention. For the sake of in-depth analysis, Mongla Master Plan (MMP) is evaluated to establish the arguments. There are several reasons for choosing this specific plan. Firstly, the plan area is located by one of the environmentally and ecologically most sensitive areas of Bangladesh, the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest. Secondly, Coal Based Thermal Power Plant at Rampal is now under implementation, which is in the jurisdiction of this plan. Thus, it would be easier to assess the environmental sensitivity of the plan. This will make the arguments objectively focused.