The Changing Face of Dhaka: Urban Growth and Its Discontents
Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, is now the world’s seventh most populous city, with over 23 million people as of early 2025, according to the United Nations’ urbanization update. The city’s population density exceeds 47,000 people per square kilometer, making it one of the most crowded urban centers globally. In 2024, Dhaka saw a 4% annual growth in high-rise residential developments, responding to an influx of rural migrants seeking work. However, this rapid expansion has strained the city’s infrastructure—especially water and sanitation, where the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority reported that 35% of residents still lack reliable piped water. Air pollution also reached alarming levels in January 2025, with PM2.5 concentrations surpassing 200 µg/m³ during winter, as per IQAir’s real-time data. Despite ambitious government plans announced in March 2024 for mass transit expansions, traffic congestion costs Dhaka’s economy over $3 billion annually, according to the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies. The city’s changing skyline is both a sign of progress and a warning of unchecked urban sprawl.
Garment Industry: The Engine Behind the Economy
Bangladesh’s garment sector remains its economic backbone, contributing 84% of total exports in 2024, as per Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. In the last fiscal year, apparel exports hit a record $47.5 billion, with the United States and the European Union as top buyers. The industry employs over 4.5 million workers, 60% of whom are women, offering them unprecedented economic opportunities. Recent labor strikes in late 2024 highlighted demands for higher wages; after negotiations, the government raised the minimum monthly wage to 12,500 taka (about $115), effective January 2025. Factory safety has improved since the Rana Plaza disaster, with 92% of export factories now certified as compliant by the Accord on Fire and Building Safety. However, the industry faces new challenges in 2025, including competition from Vietnam and Pakistan, rising raw material costs, and international pressure to further improve worker conditions. The sector’s ongoing transformation is closely watched by global brands and labor rights groups alike.
Climate Change: Living on the Front Lines
Bangladesh is widely recognized as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with 2024 seeing some of the most severe impacts yet. Data from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department shows that in July 2024, the country endured its worst flooding in over a decade, affecting 5.3 million people across the north and northeast. Coastal erosion has accelerated, with the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services reporting that Bangladesh loses up to 10,000 hectares of land annually to riverbank and coastal erosion. By January 2025, an estimated 400,000 people had been newly displaced due to climate-related events, according to the International Organization for Migration. In response, the government launched the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan in November 2024, focusing $8 billion in funding on resilient infrastructure and renewable energy projects. Community-based adaptation projects, such as floating gardens in the south, are also gaining traction as innovative survival strategies in a country where 80% of the land is floodplain.
Education Reform: Progress and Persistent Gaps
Bangladesh has made notable strides in education, with the Ministry of Education reporting a literacy rate of 77.9% in 2024, up from 72% in 2018. The government’s “Digital Bangladesh” initiative, expanded in early 2024, provided tablets and internet access to over 20,000 rural schools. However, challenges remain acute for marginalized groups—UNICEF’s 2024 report highlights that 2.6 million children, mostly girls in rural areas, remain out of school. Teacher shortages persist, with a national average of one teacher per 55 students at the primary level, far above UNESCO’s recommended ratio. In September 2024, a new curriculum emphasizing STEM subjects was introduced in secondary schools, aiming to better equip students for the global workforce. Private tutoring, a $2 billion annual industry, continues to thrive, reflecting gaps in formal classroom instruction. Despite these issues, Bangladesh’s youth literacy rate now surpasses many South Asian neighbors.
Healthcare Innovations and Ongoing Challenges
Bangladesh’s healthcare system experienced significant changes in 2024, particularly as the government rolled out a universal health card pilot for 1 million families in Dhaka and Chattogram. The Health Ministry reported a decline in maternal mortality, reaching a new low of 153 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024. The country also launched its first locally produced mRNA vaccine for dengue fever in August 2024, following a spike in cases that saw more than 120,000 infections across the country that year. However, rural areas lag behind, with only one doctor per 3,800 residents—half the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum. Medicine shortages and out-of-pocket costs remain significant barriers, with 64% of total health spending paid directly by families, according to a 2025 World Bank assessment. Telemedicine platforms, such as Doctorola, saw a 35% uptick in usage during 2024, pointing to a digital shift in healthcare delivery. Despite incremental progress, equitable access remains a major issue.
Women’s Empowerment: Breaking Barriers, Shaping Futures
Bangladeshi women are making historic gains in politics, economics, and society as of 2025. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024 ranked Bangladesh first in South Asia for gender parity in political empowerment, with 21% of parliamentary seats held by women. Female enrollment in higher education crossed 52% in 2024, a milestone celebrated by the University Grants Commission. In the workplace, women now account for 38% of the formal labor force, up from 33% in 2019, driven by increases in sectors like banking, tech, and entrepreneurship. Microfinance institutions such as Grameen Bank and BRAC disbursed over $7.2 billion in loans to women entrepreneurs in 2024. However, gender-based violence remains a critical issue, with the Ain o Salish Kendra reporting over 1,400 cases of domestic violence in the first half of 2024 alone. Legal reforms and awareness campaigns, such as “Amader Kotha,” are making slow but steady progress toward a more equitable society.
Digital Bangladesh: A Technological Leap Forward
Bangladesh’s ambitious “Digital Bangladesh” vision has made dramatic headway, with internet penetration passing 71% by March 2025, according to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. The country now boasts over 131 million mobile phone subscribers, and 45 million active social media users, driven largely by young people under 30. The government’s rollout of 4G and pilot 5G services in Dhaka and Chattogram in late 2024 has fueled a boom in e-commerce; the sector grew by 32% year-on-year, reaching $3.8 billion in transactions. Startups like Pathao (ride-sharing) and Chaldal (online groceries) are household names, supported by a record $230 million in venture capital investment in 2024. Cybersecurity incidents rose 14% in 2024, prompting new data protection regulations passed in January 2025. Rural connectivity remains a challenge, with only 38% of villages having reliable broadband, but government initiatives aim to bridge this gap by 2028.
Culture and Heritage: Tradition Meets Modernity
Bangladesh’s cultural landscape is experiencing a vibrant revival, blending deep-rooted traditions with global influences. In 2024, the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of the International Mother Language Day with record participation in Dhaka’s Shaheed Minar, honoring language martyrs. The film industry saw a resurgence, with the movie “Shurongo” grossing over 100 million taka in its opening month, signaling renewed interest in local cinema. Contemporary art is thriving, as evidenced by the Dhaka Art Summit 2024, which hosted 400 artists from 44 countries. Culinary tourism is also on the rise, with Dhaka’s Old Town food tours attracting 120,000 international visitors last year. However, UNESCO has warned that up to 200 heritage sites are at risk from urban development and climate change, leading to new preservation initiatives in 2025. The tension between rapid modernization and cultural preservation remains a defining feature of Bangladeshi identity.
Energy Transformation: Toward a Greener Future
Energy policy in Bangladesh is at a watershed. In 2024, the government announced the closure of two major coal-fired power plants, shifting focus toward renewables and liquefied natural gas. Solar capacity reached 1.19 GW by April 2025, up 29% from the previous year, according to the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority. The 1,200 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant began limited operations in December 2024, marking a historic milestone in the country’s energy diversification. Despite these achievements, over 10 million people—mostly in rural or coastal areas—still lack reliable electricity. The Asian Development Bank approved $500 million in new funding in February 2025 for off-grid solar home systems. Rising global fuel prices and energy import costs present ongoing economic risks, but Bangladesh’s commitment to a 40% renewable energy share by 2041 demonstrates a bold long-term vision.
Migration and Remittances: The Global Lifeline
Over 13 million Bangladeshis live and work abroad, making the country the seventh largest source of migrant labor worldwide as of 2025. In 2024, remittance inflows reached a record $25.6 billion, according to the Bangladesh Bank, accounting for 7% of GDP. The Middle East remains the top destination, but new agreements in 2024 opened up opportunities in Eastern Europe and East Asia. However, labor rights violations and recruitment scams remain persistent issues; 2,800 cases of worker abuse were officially documented in 2024. The government responded by introducing biometric verification for overseas job seekers and stricter monitoring of recruiting agencies. In a recent development, the International Labour Organization launched a joint initiative with Bangladesh in March 2025 to support safer migration pathways. Remittances remain a critical buffer for millions of rural families, funding home construction, education, and small businesses across the country.