Urban Resilience: Navigating Poverty and Livelihoods in Dhaka Slums

This book offers a deep dive into the complex challenges faced by millions living in Dhaka’s slums, where poverty, climate change, and inadequate infrastructure create a harsh reality. With around 3.5 to 4 million residents, these slums are a significant part of the city, and this book sheds light on their daily struggles and the urgent need for sustainable solutions. We start with an overview of Dhaka’s slums, setting the stage for understanding the intricate social and economic landscape. This book explores how climate change drives people from rural areas to urban centers, revealing that nearly 70% of slum residents have moved due to environmental challenges. This influx puts immense pressure on already strained resources and infrastructure. A key focus is on the socioeconomic conditions of slum dwellers. Many face low incomes, high unemployment, and limited access to education and healthcare. Using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), we uncover the significant gaps in education, healthcare, and living conditions that define life in these urban areas. The sharp rise in poverty rates, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the vulnerability of these communities to external shocks. Health issues are another critical aspect we examine. This book discusses the inadequate healthcare facilities available to slum residents, many of whom rely on informal providers, leading to poor health outcomes like high infant mortality and malnutrition. The lack of clean water and sanitation only worsens these problems, making residents more susceptible to diseases. We also look at the stark differences in infrastructure across various slums. While some areas, like Diabari, may have better access to services, others, like Duaripara, struggle with severe infrastructural challenges. This inconsistency significantly affects the quality of life for residents. Additionally, this book addresses the exploitative practices of illegal utility syndicates that charge residents high prices for unsafe services.