The Strategic Design Approaches for Chittagong Hill Areas to Reduce Risks of Landslides and Exploring the Opportunity of Tourism Development

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Published: Dec 4, 2017
Keywords:
landslide vulnerable area sustainable tourism development hill slope

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Syed Monirul Islam
Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh
Maher Niger
Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh

Abstract

Chittagong is the largest port city and second largest city of Bangladesh and contributes substantially to the economic development of Bangladesh. Chittagong is quite an attractive location. Surrounded by the rivers, hills and the sea, Chittagong possess the opportunity to uphold its image as a fascinating, multiple tourism destination where visitors can enjoy both the sea and hills. Chittagong has boundless opportunities for thousands of people living in the hilly areas. But unfortunately the hillsides are highly vulnerable to frequent
and damaging landslides. Recent major landslides were caused by an extreme, higher than average, rainfall
within a short period of time. Moreover rapid urbanization, increased population density, improper land
use, alterations in the hilly regions by illegally cutting the hills, indiscriminate deforestation and agricultural
practices are aggravating the land and contributing to landslides. The aim of this study is to assess the area’s
potential for landslides and explores different strategic designs measures based on assessment of risks,
uncertainty, possible consequences, constructability, environmental impacts and costs. While proposing
specific measures to take to prevent landslides, it is best to match the physical characteristics of the hills and
the availability of materials. This study makes an effort to contribute to the development of a comprehensive
design solution that can be adapted to reduce landslides and to ensure the residents’ immediate safety and
at the same time promote tourism development.

Article Details

How to Cite
Islam, S. M., & Niger, M. (2017). The Strategic Design Approaches for Chittagong Hill Areas to Reduce Risks of Landslides and Exploring the Opportunity of Tourism Development. Nakhara : Journal of Environmental Design and Planning, 13, 59–72. Retrieved from https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/nakhara/article/view/104609
Issue
Vol. 13 (2017): January - December
Section
Review Articles
Author Biographies

Syed Monirul Islam, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh

Syed Monirul Islam is an Assistant Professor of Ahsanullah University of science and technology (AUST).
He did his bachelor from the Department of architecture, Khulna University in the year 1997. He has been
a member of this Faculty since 2007 and now doing his MSc in Disaster management in Dhaka University,
Bangladesh. He has vast experience on professional field includes in various sectors and projects. His
interest lies on Disaster Resilient Housing and Settlement and working on papers based on his master’s
research. He has supervised many under grade thesis projects on various aspects. He has published
papers based on his interest field and currently working on different issues, problems and opportunities in
the coastal areas of Bangladesh.

Maher Niger, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh

Maher Niger is an architect and urban planner by profession. She did her bachelor from the Department of
Architecture, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) in 2003. She also completed her MSc
degree in Geo information Science and Earth Observation specialized in Urban Planning and Management
from the University of Twente, the Netherlands with a dissertation on Sustainable urban transport development
and land use integration. Currently she works as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture
of AUST. Her main fields of teaching, research and professional interest are architecture and urban design,
urban morphology and sustainable urban transport, geographical information science for transportation
and land use integration.

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