Applicability of Land Sharing Scheme to Korail Slum, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

There are many slums and squatter settlements in Dhaka. Sometimes, slums are found in prime locations and inhabitants are under fear of eviction. Slum inhabitants play an important role in the national economy as cheap labors in the center of Dhaka. This paper aims to investigate whether the land sharing approach can be applied in a Dhaka's slum to provide formal land tenure for slum residents in two aspects: acceptability to both slum dwellers and landowners, and financial feasibility. Additionally, this study aims to identify the appropriate design and tenure type for land sharing. In this study, the contingent valuation method (CVM) was applied and a questionnaire survey was conducted to inhabitants in Korail slum and an interview survey was carried out with the government officials whose organizations are land owners of the area. As for the results, inhabitants and landowners showed acceptance of land sharing in Korail. Both prefer to middle-rise buildings, but their preference for land tenure differs. Regarding with financial feasibility, the only scenario that proposes middle-rise apartment houses with full tenure ship is feasible financially, and other land sharing scenarios need some fundraising.