International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 04 | Apr 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Gentrification and the Absence of Inclusionary Zoning in Dhaka: Who Gets Left Behind? Kazi Samina Shamsi Huq M.Sc., Urban Management and Development (IHS, Erasmus University Rotterdam), Netherlands ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract – Gentrification is a growing phenomenon in
displacement of low-income communities [2]. However, gentrification does not occur in isolation. It is actively supported by key players, including private developers, construction firms, government bodies, and real estate professionals, who collectively shape urban growth and land-use decisions [3][1]. On the other hand, academic discourse on gentrification is divided into two key perspectives. One viewpoint suggests that gentrification fosters social progress by enhancing neighborhood cohesion and integration [4]. However, the more widely accepted perspective argues that gentrification disrupts social structures, displaces vulnerable populations, and intensifies segregation [5]. While traditionally associated with cities in the Global North, gentrification is increasingly affecting cities in developing countries as well, including Dhaka.
Dhaka, with significant socio-economic consequences for its inhabitants. While gentrification brings modernization, improved infrastructure, and investment, it also exacerbates housing inequality, displaces long-standing communities, and, on top of that, undermines social cohesion. Over the past few decades, Dhaka’s urbanization has been fueled by fastgrowing populations, migration from rural areas, as well as increased investment in infrastructure. Additionally, this city has expanded outward, with newer developments replacing older neighborhoods. As a result, areas historically characterized by affordable housing and home to low-income populations are now witnessing increasing property values and large-scale urban renewal projects. Although gentrification has been extensively studied in the Global North, its impact in Dhaka is a relatively recent area of research. This paper examines the spatial and socio-economic consequences of gentrification, focusing on neighborhoods that were previously accessible to low-income groups but are now experiencing widespread rental inflation and developmentdriven displacement. Using qualitative interviews with displaced residents and housing developers alongside spatial analysis, this study reveals that displacement follows a localized, multi-stage pattern with affected households relocating to adjacent lower-cost or peri-urban areas. Findings indicate that the absence of inclusionary zoning and other regulatory mechanisms allows market-driven urbanization to intensify housing inequality, reinforcing sociospatial segregation. This study argues that adopting inclusionary zoning policies could offer a viable strategy to balance urban growth with social equity. In the absence of such intervention, Dhaka risks deepening its housing crisis with low-income communities increasingly pushed toward peripheral and environmentally vulnerable areas.
As one of the most rapidly urbanizing cities in South Asia, Dhaka is undergoing a significant transformation in its housing market, driven by market-led urbanization and rising demand for upscale housing. These changes are often framed as indicators of economic progress and renewal. Nevertheless, they come at a cost, particularly for Dhaka’s vulnerable communities. The fear of residential and sociospatial displacement is not merely theoretical now; it is a present reality for low-income and marginalized people. Looking ahead, gentrification in Dhaka is likely to continue as the city expands and modernizes. Without intervention, the risk is that Dhaka could become extremely polarized, with affluent residents occupying prime locations, while the urban poor are pushed to the city’s periphery. Urban renewal and modernization are often presented as signs of economic success, bringing both opportunities and challenges. The emphasis, however, should be on fostering renewal and development without causing displacement [6]. Yet, Dhaka lacks formal protections for displaced communities to ensure housing equity. This makes gentrification an even harsher process, where the entire group is gradually displaced with no housing alternatives or social assistance. Historically, Dhaka’s urban expansion and development have been heavily shaped by low-income groups, whose contributions to the city’s physical and economic growth remain vital to this day [7]. Yet, these same communities now experience the most severe consequences of gentrification, as rising property prices along with redevelopment projects make affordable housing increasingly inaccessible. The relocation of these populations to the urban periphery not only disrupts their social networks but also limits their access to employment
Key Words: Gentrification, Inclusionary Zoning, Social equity, Regulatory frameworks, Displacement
1. INTRODUCTION The concept of gentrification is widely known yet contested. For more than five decades, scholars have been debating the complexities of gentrification. At the heart of these discourses are concerns over who benefits from the process and who is left behind to bear its consequences [1]. Gentrification is commonly addressed as a process of neighborhood transformation, where rising property values, rental inflation, and urban redevelopment lead to the
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