Basic Definitions

Urban: Urban is related to cities and towns. It is opposite to rural. The definitions of urban area
differ country to country, time to time. Every country defined urban area according to its own
social, cultural and economic structure. So with the same parameters one locality can be urban in
one country but for the other it may not.

An urban area can be defined by one or more of the following: administrative criteria or political
boundaries, a threshold population size, population density, economic function (e.g., where a
significant majority of the population is not primarily engaged in agriculture, or where there is
surplus employment) or the presence of urban characteristics (e.g., paved streets, electric lighting,
sewerage).

Urban is a place where manmade features dominate the nature made features. Generally urban
refers to a place where economic concentrations are present. Urban is an agglomerated settlement
whose inhabitants are primarily engaged in non-agricultural occupations.

The definition of urban area in the Paurashava Ordinance, 1977

Urban area is as place contains not less than 15000 inhabitants, average density not less
than 2000 people per square mile and at least three fourths of adult male populations are
engaged in pursuits other than agriculture.

The definition of urban area in Bangladesh as per 1981 census of BBS was
It is a continuous collection of population having the public utilities like roads, street
lighting, water supply, sanitation, sewerage system etc. These places are normally centers
of trade and commerce with a population mostly non- agricultural and housing non-
agricultural labors concentration and a higher literacy rate.

According to the Paurashava Act of 2009

An area will be urban when it fulfills the following characteristics
• Three fourth population engaged in non agricultural activity
• 33% land is non agricultural
• Population density not less than 1500 per square kilometer
• Population at least 50,000

The definition of urban area in Bangladesh as per community series of 2011

It corresponds with area developed around a central place having such amenities as
metalled roads, improved communication, electricity, gas, water supply, sewerage,
sanitation and also having comparatively higher density of population with majority
population in non-agriculture occupations.
Difference between Urban and Rural Area
Urban Area Rural Area
• Urban relates to the area surrounding • Rural relates to a sparsely
cities and well populated areas. populated areas, usually farmland.
• Urban areas can include town and • Rural areas include villages and
cities hamlets
• Urban areas may develop in a • Rural areas may develop randomly
particular site on the basis of availability of
• Urban settlements are defined by their natural vegetation and fauna in a
advanced civic amenities, region
opportunities for education, facilities • Rural areas are lack of advanced
for transport, business and social civic facilities
interaction and overall better standard
of living
• Urban population receives the benefits • Rural settlements are based more
of man’s advancements in the areas of on natural resources and events
science and technology and is not
nature-dependent for its day to day • While, sunset in rural areas means
functions. the day is virtually over.
• Businesses stay open late into the • Generally rural areas are
evenings in urban areas homogenous and it is very difficult
• Urban areas can be classified to classify according to land use
according to land use and density of category.
population.

Region
An area or division, especially part of a country or the world having definable characteristics but
not always fixed boundaries. Examples: Flood prone area, Coastal area, Barind tract etc.

Mega-City
An urban agglomeration with a population of 10 million or more is called a megacity. In 1975,
New York, Tokyo and Mexico City were the only megacities. In 2009, 21 urban agglomerations
qualified as megacities, accounting for 9.4 per cent of the world’s urban population. Today, 11
megacities are found in Asia, 4 in Latin America and 2 each in Africa, Europe and North America.
Mexico, Tokyo, London, Paris, Dhaka, Mumbai (Bombay), Calcutta, Delhi, Cairo, etc. are some of
the examples of mega-cities.

Dhaka is the only mega city of Bangladesh. Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, has a
population of around 13 million, making it the largest city in Bangladesh.
Mega-region
A rapidly growing urban cluster surrounded by low density hinterland, formed as a result of
expansion, growth and geographical convergence of more than one metropolitan area and other
agglomerations. Common in North America and Europe, mega regions are now expanding in other
parts of the world and are characterized by rapidly growing cities, great concentrations of people
(including skilled workers), large markets and significant economic innovation and potential.
Examples include the Hong Kong-Shenzhen-Guangzhou mega-region (120 million people) in
China and the Tokyo- Nagoya-Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe mega-region (predicted to reach 60 million by
2015) in Japan.

Urban coridor
A linear ‘ribbon’ system of urban organization: cities of various sizes linked through transportation
often running between major cities. Urban corridors Metropolitan Area spark business and change
the nature and function of individual towns and cities, promoting regional economic growth but
also often reinforcing urban primacy and unbalanced regional development.
Examples include the industrial corridor developing between Mumbai and Delhi in India; the
manufacturing and service industry corridor running from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to the port city
of Klang.

City-region
An urban development on a massive scale: a major city that expands beyond administrative
boundaries to engulf small cities, towns and semi-urban and rural hinterlands, sometimes
expanding sufficiently to merge with other cities, forming large conurbations that eventually
become city-regions.
For example, the Cape Town city-region in South Africa extends up to 100 kilometres, including
the distances that commuters travel every day. The extended Bangkok region in Thailand is
expected to expand another 200 kilometres from its centre by 2020, growing far beyond its current
population of over 17 million.

Metropolitan Area/Region
A formal local government area comprising the urban area as a whole and its primary commuter
areas typically formed around a city with a large concentration of people (i.e., a population of at
least 100,000). In addition to the city proper, a metropolitan area includes both the surrounding
territory with urban levels of residential density and some additional lower-density areas that are
adjacent to and linked to the city (e.g., through frequent transport, road linkages or commuting
facilities).
The divisional headquarters are termed as Statistical Metropolitan Area (SMA).

Municipality/Pourashava
Areas administered by the Government as Urban under the Pourashava Ordinance 1997. According
to official statistics, there were 213 municipalities in 2001 and 310 in 2009. The pattern of spacing
of these municipal towns and cities is fairly balanced across the country.
 Urbanization, Urban Growth, Urban Sprawl

Urbanization
Urbanization is the movement of population from rural to urban areas and the resulting increasing
proportion of a population that resides in urban rather than rural places. Thompson Warren has
defined it as the movement of people from communities concerned chiefly or solely with
agriculture to other communities generally larger whose activities are primarily centered in
government, trade, manufacture or other related interests.

Urbanization is a two-way process because it involves not only movement from village
to cities and change from agricultural occupation to business, trade, service and
profession but it also involves change in the migrants attitudes, beliefs, values and
behavior patterns.

The process of urbanization is rapid all over the world. The facilities like education, healthcare
system, employment opportunity, civic facilities and social welfare are reasons attracting people to
urban areas.

The present era of civilization is defined as the urban civilization. Due to extensive and massive
development of science and technology, new towns and cities are being developed in all parts of
the world along with the expansion of existing urban areas. A high percentage of total population
are moving from rural to urban areas and causing urbanization.
• So, Urbanization is the process of becoming urban.
• In other words it is a demographic process whereby an increasing proportion of the
population of a region or a country live in urban areas.

Urbanization entails changes in the following sectors

• In human settlements pattern (from rural to urban)
• Occupational pattern (from rural-agricultural to urban-industrial, service etc.),
• value system (from traditional to modern),
• consumption pattern (from natural products to manufactured/industrial goods) and
• Life style (from familial/community living to more and more individual/nuclear living) etc.

Level of Urbanization & Urban Growth

Often level of urbanization and urban growth are used synonymously though they do not bear the
same concept. There exist significant conceptual distinction between level of urbanization and
urban growth.
According to Francis Cherunilam (Indian),
“Urban growth refers to an increase in total urban population (percentage), whereas urbanization
refers to an increase in the percentage of urban population to total population.”

Level of Urbanization
Level of Urbanization or simply ‘urbanization’ refers to the proportion of a nation’s population
living in the urban areas. The degree or level of urbanization may be denoted as –
n Up
Where: U = ------- x 100
T
Un = Level of Urbanization p
Up = Total Urban Population
Tp = Total Population

Urbanization ≠ urban growth

For example, in 1981, the total population and urban population of Bangladesh were 87.12 and
13.54 million respectively. Hence level of urbanization in 1981,
n 13.54
U = ----------- x 100 = 15.54 percent
81 87.12

In 1991, the total population was 111.45 million and the urban population was 22.45 million.
Therefore,
n 22.45
U = ------------- x 100 = 20.15 percent
91 111.45

Thus over the 10-year period (1981-1991) the proportion of population in the country’s urban areas
increased from 15.54 percent to 20.15 percent.

Urban Growth
Urban growth is the rate of growth of urban population. As for example, between the period 1901
and 1911, the urban population of Dhaka division increased from 269 thousand to 293 thousand.
Urban Growth rate = {(293-269) x 100}/269 = 9.13%
Annual Urban Growth rate = 9.13/10 = 0.913%

Urban Sprawl
Also ‘horizontal spreading’ or ‘dispersed urbanization’. The uncontrolled and disproportionate
expansion of an urban area into the surrounding countryside, forming low-density, poorly planned
patterns of development. Common in both high-income and low-income countries, urban sprawl is
characterized by a scattered population living in separate residential areas, with long blocks and
poor access, often over dependent on motorized transport and missing well defined hubs of
commercial activity.
VARIOUS FORMS FOR URBAN SPRAWL

Compact Development Scattered Development Leapfrogging Development

Linear Strip Development Polynucleated Development

Factors of Urbanization
Urbanization is a process that entails change in human settlements pattern, occupational pattern,
value systems, consumption patterns, life style etc. But the rate of urban growth as well as
development varies from region to region. There are some direct and indirect factors which
influence the process of urbanization. These are called the determinants of urbanization. The main
determinants of urbanization are summarized below.

Physical factors
• Topography
Different features of land mostly land level greatly influence urban growth. It is easier to build
residence in a flat plain area rather than on the slope of high mountains. In high region construction
of road is also difficult. Not only roads but also provision of other facilities like electricity, water
supply, sewerage etc is also difficult on the high mountains. Examples: Hill tract region
(Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari etc.) of Bangladesh.
 • Land availability
Available of suitable land is an important factor of urbanization. If the price of land goes high it
will be hard to obtain land. Besides if there is any physical barrier such as High Mountain or
bounded by water body on all sides then it is difficult to expansion the city. Hence the flow of
urbanization will be disturbed.

• Existence of rivers or other water bodies

Rivers play a vital rule in both growth and development of urban. In the ancient period the
civilizations were built up by the side of rivers. As long as water is essential for life and also is the
cheapest and easiest mode of transportation important trade centers grow up besides rivers. In
Bangladesh the major cities are located by the side of river such as Rajshahi is on the bank of
Padma, Dhaka is on the bank of Buriganga, Chittagong is the port city etc.

Demographic Factors
• Rapid growth of urban population
The main cause of urbanization is the rapid growth of urban population. And comparatively fewer
death rates play a vital role in the growth of urban population. Better medical and healthcare
facility, high standard of living etc. are main reasons for low death rate in urban area thus
increasing urban population.

• Rural- Urban migration

Rural-urban migration is another vital factor of high growth rate of urban population. Rural-urban
migration is aggravated by landlessness, poverty, unemployment, natural hazards like flood, river
erosion etc. On the other hand job availability, better treatment and healthcare facilities, electricity
and water supply etc. are attractive forces of the migration of rural people.

Social Factors
• Change in value system
Both the collective and individual values are changing day by day; from generation to generation.
Due to globalization the knowledge of human beings is increasing in every field, their behavior,
thoughts, ideas are changing and moving to urban areas for better living.
 • Landlessness and poverty
The population growth rate is high in almost all Third World countries. This excess population
creates pressure on the limited land area. This is why land-man ratio is decreasing. And only to live
from hand to mouth this excess population is migrating from rural to urban area.

• Family structure
Change in family structure is more or less the outcome of the change in value system. Peoples are
preferring individuals or nuclear living. Shortage of living space prevents living in the large family.
This is the real change of urban structures.

• Attraction for high standard of living

The civic facilities of modern civilization-water, gas, electricity, fast running vehicles, recreation,
new science technology etc. are the main attraction of urban life. With the combination of these
facilities urban life becomes more standard, easy and comfortable. These facilities attract rural
people to migrate in urban areas.

Economic Factors
• Change in Occupation
In earlier days people were very much agro-based. At present as long as economic return is very
low from agriculture therefore, most of the peoples are looking for different shorts of job rather
than agriculture and more people are becoming urban dwellers.
• Development of Industry
Industrial development has a positive relationship with urbanization. To meet the demand of the
rapid urban growth new industries are being constructed and the existing business centers are also
being expanding. Rapid industrialization means rapid urbanization and development.
• Development of trade centre
With increasing the number of trade centres more area is being converted into urban area. Thus
urbanization is taking place very fast.

Political factors
• Political instability
Political instability plays a role in why some countries remain poor. Needless to say, countries with
long-term conflicts such as the ones in Somalia or Afghanistan have little chance of developing.
 • Political commitment
Leaders of different political parties sometimes develop their local areas either for themselves or
for their colleagues or sometime to keep promises made to the local people during election. These
directly or indirectly help in urbanization when the area is categorized under urban.
• Change in the definition of urban areas
• Change of Administration
Sometimes reforms or revolutions being change in the form of local government and it helps in
urban development. As for example when the Thanas of our country were transferred in to upazillas
lot of changes took place. New officers were selected to new posts. New office Buildings, health
complex, residence, and educational institutions had to be made. The same thing may happen when
district headquarter turned into divisional headquarter.
• Creation of new urban centers and expansion of existing urban areas

Other factors
• Improved transportation and communication system
The transportation and communication system is more developed in urban areas than that of rural
areas. The development of communication system is increasing urban horizon, phone, fax, internet,
T.V. camera all these are opening our eyes to more and more developed state of living. This facility
attracts the rural people to live in urban area.
• Development works
Sometimes development related works influence the growth of new urban centres. For example due
to the construction of Jamuna Bridge two cities grew at two ends of the bridge.
• Education
Cities like Oxford, Cambridge grew up only around universities and colleges. In our country
Rajshahi town is based on the Rajshahi University.
• Tourism
Tourism sometime influences the growth of urban areas.
• Climate
Climate influence urban growth for example in very hot places like deserts or in very cold places
like North Pole there is hardly any development of urban settlement. It’s not that people cannot or
don’t live in such climates but it is not suitable to encourage urbanization.