Capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka, is the largest city in the nation with an urban population of 10.2 million, and 22.4 million when considering its conurbation. It is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Key industries include textiles processing, pharmaceuticals, electronics, shipbuilding and electronics, among other goods.
Leveraging on these elements will position the city well as investment grows in Asia and the need for young talent grows in an ageing world. Some of Dhaka's emerging strengths are its emerging sub-centres such as Savar and East Dhaka capturing specialised growth potential. Availability of vacant land such as in East Dhaka offers opportunities for growth if done sustainably. Challenges are intense too, stemming from rapid, unplanned growth, environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure, inequality, and lack of effective governance and planning.
Of the four categories, Dhaka performs best in Urban Management and Governance, owing to the city's commitment to sustainability - outperforming some of its South Asian peers. In May 2024, Dhaka launched its first climate action plan. This step is critical in developing long-term competitiveness by ensuring the city is well equipped to handle more frequent and severe climate-related shocks.
