The Story of Abhijeet kumar singh
As a resident and working professional in Dhaka, one of the fastest-growing cities in Bangladesh, I have witnessed firsthand how rapid urbanization is impacting public health. The swift expansion of urban areas, while offering economic opportunities, has also brought significant health challenges.
In densely populated parts of the city, cramped and overcrowded housing conditions create an ideal environment for the spread of infectious diseases. Moreover, the absence of adequate sanitation systems and proper waste management has led to a rise in water contamination, contributing to the increasing prevalence of waterborne illnesses. Communities in newly urbanized zones often lack the infrastructure needed to ensure clean water and hygienic living environments. These public health risks are not just future concerns—they are current, visible issues affecting thousands of people every day. Without urgent attention and sustainable planning, the health of urban residents will continue to deteriorate under the weight of unregulated growth.
Urban health in Bangladesh is facing a critical crisis due to rapid and largely unplanned urbanization. Cities like Dhaka, Chattogram, and others have seen explosive population growth, resulting in the expansion of informal settlements where millions live without access to basic services. Overcrowding, poor housing, inadequate sanitation, and unsafe drinking water have created environments where communicable diseases such as cholera, tuberculosis, and dengue spread rapidly, especially during the monsoon season. While urban areas have more health facilities than rural regions, the reality is that low-income populations cannot afford private healthcare and often find public hospitals overcrowded and under-resourced. At the same time, non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory illnesses are rising sharply due to pollution, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, and sedentary lifestyles. Air pollution in major cities, particularly Dhaka, ranks among the worst globally, posing a severe threat to respiratory health and quality of life. Mental health, too, is becoming an increasingly serious concern, with urban stressors such as poverty, job insecurity, crime, and lack of green spaces contributing to anxiety and depression, yet mental health services remain scarce and stigmatized. Climate change is also compounding these issues by increasing the frequency of heatwaves, flooding, and disease outbreaks, disproportionately affecting the urban poor who are least equipped to cope. Addressing these urban health challenges requires urgent action from all sectors—government, NGOs, communities, and international partners. We must invest in primary healthcare, improve sanitation and water systems, reduce pollution, and promote public awareness about healthy living. Without a coordinated and inclusive approach, the health of millions of urban residents will remain at risk, threatening not only individual well-being but the sustainable development of Bangladesh as a whole.
The future of Bangladesh is urban. If we are to build inclusive, safe, and resilient cities, we must place public health at the center of urban development. Let us work together—governments, civil society, healthcare providers, and citizens—to create cities where health is not a privilege but a fundamental right for all.
Abhijeet kumar singh, Research and Communication officer, Eminence Associates for Social Development
