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Dhaka Manages Neighborhood Developments Through Targeted Upgrades and Oversight Bodies
City authorities apply World Bank-supported programs and planning agency decisions to address public spaces and residential growth in selected areas.
How we reported this
The Dhaka City Neighborhood Upgrading Project directs improvements to public spaces and traffic management in four specific neighborhoods under a five-year World Bank-funded effort.
Public Space and Traffic Initiatives
This project targets Kamrangirchar, Lalbagh, Sutrapur-Nayabazar-Gulistan, and Khilgaon-Mugdha-Bashabo. Local services focus on these upgrades to handle development pressures through coordinated planning decisions.
Planned Townships and Private Projects
Purbachal New Town spans over 6,200 acres between the Shitalakhya and Balu rivers and functions as Dhaka's largest planned township with 26,000 residential plots and 62,000 apartments under RAJUK oversight. Bashundhara Residential Area operates as the largest private real estate project in Greater Dhaka through East West Property Development under Bashundhara Group.
Newer projects include Sheltech Khan Legacy in Banani with a 2028 completion target, ANZ Hoque Square as a mixed-use complex in Badda, and Shanta Holdings' LEED-certified Atelier Complex that reserves 40 percent of units for diplomatic staff.
Market Trends and Community Impacts
Residential developments increasingly form homogeneous elite enclaves or restricted gated communities that affect traditional intermediate community spaces and social cohesion. Residential property prices in prime locations such as Gulshan, Banani, and Dhanmondi have seen 25-40 percent hikes over the past two to two-and-a-half years. As of April 2025 the average price for a two-bedroom apartment stood at $35,970.
Construction costs rose 12 percent year-on-year due to higher steel and cement prices. Demand for mid-range apartments between BDT 3-8 million increased by 17 percent year-on-year in 2024 in areas including Purbachal, Bashundhara, Mirpur, and Mohammadpur.
Next Steps for Residents
Residents can review project details through the World Bank documentation on the Dhaka City Neighborhood Upgrading Project or contact RAJUK for information on planned townships and local service applications.