Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh: Organizational Gap Analysis- Case Study on Ministry of Housing and Public Works

The lack of financial support and proper research in housing has been identified by the Government of Bangladesh as one of the major problems in improving sustainable housing condition of lower and middle-income families in Bangladesh. Unplanned urbanization in the city area leads to poor living status which undermines the economic growth and becomes a barrier to achieve the goal-11 (sustainable cities and communities) of sustainable development goal (SDGs). Ministry of Housing and Public Works (MHPW) has a mission to develop a planned, safe and sustainable housing with affordable cost for the low and middle-income people ensuring the best uses of lands though suitable planning and research. To identify the low and middle-income households of this study, a circular of Bangladesh Bank refinance scheme of 2008-2009, has been followed where it has been defined as those whose monthly household income is within the upper ceiling of BDT 50,000 (USD 600). The residential housing sector of Bangladesh is characterized by a three-tier market. First are those households with the highest disposable income, able to afford high-quality housing. The second tier is the relatively narrow stratum of middle-income households. The third and the largest of the tiers is the low-income households. The attempt of this study is to find out the challenges after assessing the housing status of lower and middle-income people and will try to link up with goal 11 of SDGs which has been mentioned in the strategic objectives of MHPW. This study will focus on mainly secondary data while primary data will also be collected through a questionnaire survey to sketch the real picture of the present condition of the housing of people. Recommendations of the study will help in mapping mission of the said ministry and achieving goal 11 of SDGs and will try to bridge the knowledge gap by identifying the risk factors in the sustainable housing through the idea of the smart city.