Urban informality and parallel governance systems: shaping citizens’ engagements in urban planning processes in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Informality within the urban planning practice in developing countries is no longer synonymous to the prevalence of urban poverty but rather also associated with various forms of power and wealth accumulation. This paper uncovers how informality and resulting parallel governance systems discourage community participation in local development. It describes the role of informality in three areas of local planning in Dhaka megacity, viz. urban service delivery, strategic planning and urban development. Reporting from a variety of sources, we contend that privileged citizens are likely to disregard the formal planning system and where it serves their interest, they resort to the parallel system to circumvent regulatory controls. The situation is further aggravated because the existence of parallel systems discourages the urban poor to participate in formal planning processes. Some lose their trust in the government and avoid participation altogether, while others seek informal access to it through middlemen for favourable outcomes.