This project, which was funded by SHLC’s Capacity Development Acceleration Fund, explores what makes Noapara and Mongla liveable cities from the perspectives of residents, officials and stakeholders.
The research team used interdisciplinary and creative methods and tools, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, storytelling workshops and street theatre performances to understand interpretations of what makes a neighbourhood liveable, and sustainable.
Background
Until very recently, most urban research in Bangladesh has focused on the megacity of Dhaka and its informal settlements. This project extends research into other regional cities, Noapara in Jessore district and Mongla in Bagerhat district, where rapid urbanisation, insecure livelihoods, climate change and insufficient infrastructure are creating a problematic reality not only for residents but also local government and policymakers.
The objective of the project is to explore and investigate two under-researched yet fast-growing cities (Noapara and Mongla) from the perspectives of residents, officials and stakeholders utilising interdisciplinary methods such as storytelling workshops, questionnaires, photo stories, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions in order to understand their interpretations of ‘liveability’.
Project Outputs
The project was led by Hanna Ruszczyk (Durham University), Istiakh Ahmed (International Center for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Bangladesh), Alex Halligey (University of Witwatersrand, South Africa).
This research project ‘Liveable Regional Cities in Bangladesh’ was funded by the Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods (SHLC)’s Capacity Development Acceleration Fund. SHLC is funded via UK Research and Innovation as part of the UK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund.