Govt moves to formulate National Spatial Plan for optimal use of land for development

Highlights:

• Bangladesh plans a 30-year National Spatial Plan through 2056
• Urban population is projected to exceed 38.2% by 2035
• The plan aims to curb unplanned urbanisation and farmland loss
• It will coordinate infrastructure, industrial development and land use
• Climate resilience, renewable energy and agricultural protection are priorities
• GIS mapping will guide decentralised, sustainable national development

Bangladesh's urban population rose from 23.3% in 2001 to 31.66% in 2021 and is projected to exceed 38.2% by 2035. To manage rapid and unplanned urbanisation and curb agricultural land loss, the government has initiated a National Spatial Plan (NSP).

The NSP will serve as an integrated and evidence-based development framework aimed at optimal and sustainable use of land, infrastructure, natural resources and environment.

Infograph: TBS

The 30-year plan, covering 2026-2056, will encompass the entire territory of Bangladesh, including its landmass and maritime economic zone extending up to 200 nautical miles.

The Urban Development Directorate (UDD) has prepared a Tk463 crore project proposal to formulate the plan. The proposal was recently sent to the Planning Commission for approval. The government aims to complete the formulation process within three years.

UDD officials said the plan will be reviewed and updated every five years to ensure that it remains aligned with changing socioeconomic, environmental and technological conditions.

They said the NSP is conceptually intended to integrate planning at the national, regional and local levels. However, the first phase will be limited to the national-level plan.

Fauzia Sharmin Tithi, a planner at the UDD, said Bangladesh's development is often planned sector by sector, without a national framework to connect the pieces.

"In Bangladesh, roads are planned separately and railways separately. We've taken the initiative to formulate a National Spatial Plan to ensure coordination," she said.

The proposed plan will provide a unified picture of how the country should develop, identifying areas for industrial and residential development as well as potential routes for future rail and metro rail networks, she said.

The planner added that such a framework would help align infrastructure projects and investment decisions, making development more coordinated and effective.

"Our primary responsibility will be coordination and monitoring. Relevant sectoral agencies will implement the plans. For example, road projects will be implemented by the Roads and Highways Department or local government institutions," added Fauzia.

Legal framework for the plan

To curb unplanned development and improve coordination between local and national planning, the Spatial Planning Bill, 2026 was passed on 8 April 2026. 

Also, a government task force formed to promote equitable and sustainable development also called for a national spatial planning framework in a report published in January 2025. 

It recommended a modern legal framework, similar to the UK's Town and Country Planning Act, to improve transparency and accountability in urbanisation and land use.

Why a plan needed

The project proposal says an integrated spatial plan is essential to manage rapid urbanisation and high population density. The urban population rose from 23.3% in 2001 to 31.66% in 2021 and is projected to exceed 38.2% by 2035.

Population density varies sharply across the country, from 23,234 people per sq km in Dhaka to 923 in Barishal and 97 in Rangamati, putting growing pressure on urban systems. The government plans to classify urban centres and promote planned, region-based migration.

Urban areas generate more than 65% of GDP, underscoring the need for integrated transport networks and planned industrial zones to sustain growth.

Meanwhile, agricultural land is declining by about 0.19% annually, according to the 2019 Agriculture Census. The NSP will protect farmland, identify crop-suitable zones and promote climate-resilient agriculture in coastal areas.

Climate vulnerability is another concern. Between 1990 and 2019, some 38.7 million people were affected by 185 natural disasters. The NSP will promote resilient infrastructure and forest protection to strengthen climate and disaster resilience.

Adil Mohammed Khan, professor of urban and regional planning at Jahangirnagar University, said the sooner this plan is formulated and implemented, the sooner unplanned industrialisation and urbanisation can be brought under control.

"This would make development activities more coordinated and effective," he said, adding that spatial planning is not merely a policy document but an important tool for bringing greater order to the country's overall development process.

Major areas prioritised

The plan has three components, officials said. First, it will set long-term strategies for national development. Second, it will establish a plan linking economic growth centres and regional corridors. Third, it will set integrated land-use guidelines and investment priorities.

The proposed plan will focus on planned urbanisation, sustainable industrialisation, agricultural land protection, renewable energy and integrated road, rail and waterway networks. It will also use GIS-based mapping to guide land use.

The plan also aims to ease pressure on Dhaka and encourage decentralised development. It will also strengthen municipalities' financial and administrative capacity.

To drive growth and create jobs, the plan will diversify industries under the National Industrial Policy 2022 and Economic Zones Act, while encouraging new sectors beyond RMG.

It will promote renewable energy, protect agricultural zones and encourage climate-resilient farming under the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100. It will also guide measures against floods, cyclones and earthquakes under the National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050.

The plan targets year-round connectivity by upgrading 5,000km of rural roads and building 30,000 metres of bridges and culverts annually.