Finding home in a city of chaos

On a recent weekend, Sharmeen Rahman took her two children to the Playground inside Rupayan City Uttara, where they ran around freely under the shade of carefully planted trees. "Back when we lived in Gulshan, I couldn't let them play outside without worrying about traffic or security," she said with a sigh of relief. For her family, moving to a gated community in Uttara felt like turning a new page in urban living.

Her story is far from unique. From the congested alleys of Old Dhaka to the leafy avenues of Gulshan and now to the walled serenity of places like Rupayan City Uttara, Dhaka's middle and upper classes have been on a decades-long quest for better living. Each migration reflects a deeper truth: the city keeps outgrowing itself, and so do its residents' expectations.

Why gated communities matter

Dhaka is one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world, but growth has come at a price. Traffic jams eat away hours of daily life, open spaces are vanishing, and concerns over safety—especially for children and women—loom large.

This is where gated communities promise a way out. They offer not just security but also a lifestyle: schools, hospitals, shopping centres, and playgrounds built into the neighbourhood itself. For parents like Sharmeen, that means their children can bike to a sports complex without ever crossing a busy street, and groceries are just a five-minute walk away.

Globally, this model is hardly new. From Singapore to Dubai, gated communities have become shorthand for modern urban life. But in Dhaka, the demand is fuelled not just by aspiration—it is also born out of necessity.

To understand why, it helps to look back at Old Dhaka. For centuries, it was the beating heart of the city. Families lived in ornate courtyards, neighbours exchanged meals across balconies, and every festival—from Eid to Shakrain—turned the narrow lanes into carnivals.

Yet, as Dhaka grew, Old Dhaka began to crumble under its own weight. Its roads were too narrow for cars, fire trucks could barely enter, and the centuries-old houses became unsafe for growing families. For the upper and middle classes, it became less about nostalgia and more about survival.

Many families still recall this transition vividly. Take the Ahmeds, who left Old Dhaka in the late 1970s. "We loved the buzz of Chawk Bazar, but raising children there became impossible," recalls Ahmed, now retired. "We wanted space, safety, and some peace. That's when we moved to Gulshan. At the time, it felt like moving to another world."

Gulshan: The fading 'garden city'

When Gulshan was first developed in the 1960s, it was marketed as a "garden city" for Dhaka's elite. Wide avenues, lakes, and carefully plotted houses made it the dream address for those leaving Old Dhaka's chaos. For a while, it lived up to its promise. Families like the Ahmeds built their homes there, embassies and multinational offices moved in, and high-end restaurants gave Gulshan a cosmopolitan glow.

But over time, Gulshan's charm began to fade. Towering commercial buildings replaced lakeside houses, traffic snarled its once-quiet roads, and safety became a concern as crime rates rose. Today, Gulshan is more of a business district than a family neighbourhood.

Uttara: A more planned neighbourhood

That "elsewhere" turned out to be Uttara. Planned by Rajuk in phases from the late 1980s onward, Uttara was designed with a rare commodity in Dhaka: order. Its grid-like roads, designated blocks, and open spaces gave it a sense of balance missing in many parts of the city.

Crucially, Uttara was not just residential—it became a self-sufficient hub. Schools, hospitals, shopping centres, and even its own thriving business districts grew within its bounds. Its proximity to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport only added to its appeal.

Families frustrated by Gulshan's congestion began looking at Uttara differently. "It's not as flashy, but it's livable," said Farzana Khan, who moved there 5 years ago. "There's less chaos, and it feels more organised. Now with projects like Rupayan City Uttara, it's even becoming aspirational."

In Bangladesh, the difference between bashon (just a place to stay) and abashon (a complete residential environment) is telling. For years, developers focused on bashon—putting up apartment blocks without much thought for liveability.

But today's Dhaka residents want abashon. They want Playgrounds, gyms, cultural centres, and a sense of community—not just four walls and a roof. This shift in expectations has set the stage for gated communities like Rupayan City Uttara.

A city within a city

Perched in Uttara, Rupayan City is perhaps Dhaka's boldest experiment in gated living. The developer, Rupayan Group, markets it as more than a housing project—it is a self-contained ecosystem where residents don't need to step outside its gates for their daily needs.

Rupayan City Uttara offers a wide range of facilities that go far beyond traditional housing. With controlled entry, CCTV surveillance, and round-the-clock guards, it ensures a sense of security and peace of mind for its residents. The development also places a strong emphasis on greenery, with landscaped gardens, Playgrounds, and open courtyards that provide relief from Dhaka's concrete sprawl. 

Essential services such as schools are built into the community, reducing the need to battle the city's clogged roads for everyday necessities. At the same time, community shop buildings,  supershop, and cultural spaces make leisure and daily convenience part of the residential experience. For fitness and recreation, there are gyms, swimming pools, and play zones that encourage healthier lifestyles. 

Beyond the infrastructure, Rupayan City Uttara has been designed to nurture community life, offering shared spaces and clubs where residents can bond and build relationships. For many, it feels like the abashon they have long been waiting for. "It's not just an apartment—it's a lifestyle," said one prospective buyer at a recent open house.

Value for money

Investing in Rupayan City Uttara is not just about buying a home, it's about gaining unmatched value. The project offers a lifestyle and range of facilities that are unparalleled anywhere else in Dhaka, from world-class infrastructure to exclusive community amenities. 

Beyond the luxury, buyers benefit from a higher potential return on investment, making Rupayan City Uttara a smart choice for those seeking both premium living and long-term financial growth.

The bigger picture

The rise of gated communities like Rupayan City Uttara also reveals something deeper about Dhaka's social fabric. While a segment of the population secures itself in walled paradises, the majority of the city continues to grapple with crumbling infrastructure, traffic nightmares, and inadequate housing.

The contrast is stark. Yet, for those who can afford it, gated communities are no longer just a choice—they're an expectation.

From the vibrant lanes of Old Dhaka to the garden dreams of Gulshan, from Uttara's carefully planned blocks to the gleaming gates of Rupayan City Uttara, the story of Dhaka's housing is really the story of its people: constantly searching for better, safer, and more dignified living.

Families like the Ahmeds and the Khans represent more than personal choices—they embody the larger migration of a city that keeps reinventing itself. And while Rupayan City Uttara may not be for everyone, it signals a future where abashon, not just bashon, becomes the benchmark of urban living.

As Sharmeen watches her children race down Rupayan City Uttara's safe, green pathways, she sums it up best: "In Dhaka, peace of mind is the rarest luxury. Here, we finally have it."