Current Urban Studies
2013. Vol.1, No.3, 19-27
Published Online September 2013 in SciRes (http://www.scirp.org/journal/cus) http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/cus.2013.13003
Copyright © 2013 SciRes. 19
Green Urbanism Incorporating Greenery-Based Conceptual
Model towards Attaining a Sustainable Healthy Livable
Environment—Dhaka City’s Perspective
Meher Niga r N e ema1, Khandoker Md. Maniruzzaman2, Akira Ohgai3
1Department of Urban and Regional Planning,
Bangladesh Univers i t y of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2Department of Urban and Regional Planning, College of Architectur e Planning,
University of Dammam, Dammam, KSA
3Urban and Regional P lanning Division, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering,
Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Japan
Email: mehernigar@urp.buet.ac.bd
Received May 30th, 2013; revised July 2nd, 2013; a c c e p t e d July 22nd, 2013
Copyright © 2013 Meher Nigar Neema et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Com-
mons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, pro-
vided the original work is properly cited.
In this paper, a model of green urbanism (GU) incorporating the concept of planting trees and greeneries
has been proposed. The GU model attempts to address challenges encountered by dynamically changing
cities around the globe due to the increasing events of urban greeneries transforming into built-up areas. A
framework is designed to develop a greenery-based conceptual model (GBCM) towards attaining a sus-
tainable healthy livable (SHL) environment. The model is applied to mega city Dhaka as a case study
considering its adopted greenery-based urban strategies and methodologies to deal with both social and
economic aspects. In this context, we first revisit the present state-of-the-art of greeneries in Dhaka, then
examine whether Dhaka is a SHL-city and finally, an attempt has been taken to revive Dhaka as GU to
bring a sustainable healthy environment. The model has confirmed that greenery is the prime factor of
green urbanism which could bring a number of fundamental environmental benefits such as reduction in
energy use, pollution, waste generation, emission of greenhouse gas, impacts on climate and occurrence
of natural disasters. The model thus developed has an implication on how city planners can adapt a priori
approach to ensure sustainable health of populations combating unprecedented social, economic and en-
vironmental challenges of unsustainable, unhealthy, and unlivable (3U) cities due to insufficient greener-
ies.
Keywords: Green Urbanism; Healthy City; Livable City; Sustainable City; Greenery; Tree
Introduction
Aristotle coined the term cities as places where people come
together to enjoy good life. Cities around the globe are mani-
fested with much denser population distributions and intensive
human activities. Typically cities possess a hypothetical “me-
tabolism” system which has input and output related to solid
waste, greenhouse gas and waste water (Foster, 1999). There-
fore, cities are considered as the main sources of greenhouse
gas where urban lifestyles require a large amount of energy.
The three-quarters of global pollution is caused mainly by ac-
tivities predominantly in cities. It has been reported that 75% of
the world’s energy is consumed by cities. The growth of a city
results in many new multifaceted social, economic and environ-
mental challenges to its residents including reduced greeneries,
increased deforestation, vanished water bodies and wetlands,
increased pollutions, etc. Especially, the loss of trees and gree-
neries is manifested by environmental pollution and build-up of
urban heat islands escalating the change in global climate and
thereby occuring natural disasters (e.g. flood, earthquake, land-
slide etc.) frequently in recent years. With the purpose of mini-
mizing the impacts of climate change and achieving sustainable
development, different terms have been proposed after the earth
Summit 1992 such as “green urbanism” (Lehmann, 2010), “sus-
tainable cities” (Beatley, 2000), “green cities” (Karlenzig, 2007),
“eco-cities” (Lehmann, 2010).
Green urbanism (GU) indicates pollution free future, using
public transport, renewable energies, good climatic condition,
energy efficient building designs, etc. (Lehmann, 2010). All these
issues can be achieved only by provision of greeneries1. It can
be said that the most important aspect of GU is to provide
greeneries inside city spaces which would reduce the unprece-
dented challenges stated above towards attaining sustainable-
healthy-livable (SHL) cities. In this context, an optimal plan for
1Greeneries can provide good climatic condition by absorbing air pollutants
increasing humidity and reducing air temperature, prevent excessivewinds
and noise, increase water retention and quality, prevent soil errosion, pro-
vide shade, protect from sunlight, reduce building energy use, increase
aesthetics, decrease occurrence of natural disasters, etc. and thus can im-
prove health of people (Beatley, 2000; Jim, 2004; Adams &Leedy, 1987;
N
eema & Ohgai, 2010; Neema et al., 2008; Neema & Ohgai, 2013; Gode-
froid, 2001; How ard, 1902; Kessel et al., 2009 ; Hillsdon, 2006).
M. N. NEEMA ET AL.
greeneries is expected to minimize many encountered problems
of unsustainable, unhealthy, unlivable cities (3U-cities) by re-
ducing pollutants, improving water quality, scaling down ener-
gy consumption, improving both physical and mental health of
people, reducing urban heat island build-up (Beatley, 2000; Jim,
2004; Adams & Leedy, 1987; Neema & Ohgai, 2010; Neema et
al., 2008; Neema & Ohgai, 2013; Godefroid, 2001; Howard,
1902; Amarsaikhan et al., 2006). Figure 1 represents trees are
absorbing air pollutants. Therefore, a SHL-city can be achieved
if green spaces are provided adequately and sited optimally du-
ring both new development and redevelopment of a city. Exu-
berant urban planning opts to create green cities or garden cities
(Howard, 1902; Bradley, 1995).
This research has taken an attempt to present a new GU
model based on greeneries for developing SHL-cities. It will
also discuss the state-of-the-art of greeneries in Dhaka, prove
Dhaka a 3U-city and finally, a greenery-based conceptual mo-
del (GBCM) has been proposed to revamp GU in Dhaka to make
it a SHL-city. Although Dhaka is facing a number of acute pro-
blems such as high population density, high air and water pol-
lution, high air temperature, etc., no systematic study has been
reported on GU for developing Dhaka a SHL-city. In this paper,
we thus have taken an attempt to provide some scientific judg-
ments on how trees and plantable spaces contribute towards at-
taining SHL-cities and then index in this context whether Dha-
ka is SHL-city, and finally the proposed GBCM is evaluated to
make Dhaka a SHL-city in foreseeable near future.
The paper is organized in the following ways. First, we pro-
vide some criteria of a SHL city in Section 2. In the next Sec-
tion 2.1, we illustrate GBCM model of green urbanism. In Sec-
tion 3.1, we describe the present state-of-the-art of greeneries in
Dhaka city. Then, in Section 3.2 we briefly summarize the ur-
ban environments in Dhaka to justify whether Dhaka is a SHL-
city. Next, in section 3.3 we provide some recommendations to
make Dhaka a SHL-city. Finally, in Section 4, we draw some
concluding remarks.
Methods
In the study, a SHL-city (sustainable, healthy livable city) is
defined as a city which meets the three criteria such as city
sustainability, healthy city and livable city. Towards attaining
sus-tainable healthy livable (SHL) environment, to develop a
greenery-based conceptual model (GBCM), first one may need
a clear picture of what do we understand by sustainable, healthy,
and livable city (SHL-city).
Sustainable city: A sustainable city is concomitant with the
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 1.
(a) Trees absorbing CO2, NOx and SOx (“Carbon-zero-planet Organi-
zation”), (b) Trees absorbing emissions generated from cars (“Green
Car Vector”) and (C) CO2 increasing due to destruction of trees (“Off-
setting carbon dioxide”).
concept of sustainable development. Sustainable development
can be defined as the Development which meets the needs of
the present without sacrificing the ability of the future to meet
its needs (Nations, 1987). Apart from other criteria such as
green transport, sustainable land use, compact development, etc,
the most important design criteria for sustainable city is green
urbanism.
Urban greeneries and city sustainability are union of each
other (Chiesura, 2004; Prescott-Allen, 1991; Ironside, 1999;
Campbell, 2001; Beer, 1994).
Healthy city: A healthy city is a healthy place. A healthy
city is committed to provide better physical, social and econo-
mic environments such as good housing and working condi-
tions, good transportation system, adequate water supply, prop-
er sanitation, better lifestyles and education, health services, nu-
trition, food safety, population changes, income, and so on
(Chiesura, 2004; Szaroa et al., 2000; Hashim & Kiyu, 1996;
Bari & Efroymson, 2009; Hancock, 1993). Healthy cities thus
provide good health and environmental services (WHO, 1996;
Baum & Cooke, 1992; “Towards healthy cities”, 1997). Pre-
sumably, people live in healthy cities safely and comfortably
(Baum, 1993, 1998). However, with the growth of cities many
problems emerge including over population, high-density living,
house, and stress. Cities in developing countries lack in re-
sources are confronted with serious consequences from these
problems. Healthy condition may break down with tension and
stress caused by a number of factors emanated from environ-
ment such as overcrowding, high noise levels, and fumes. To
create a healthy city, green spaces play the most important role
as they provide opportunities for improving health of people.
Therefore, any city can take initiative of a healthy city if it re-
juvenates with the development and maintenance of physical,
social and economic environments which support and promote
better health and quality of life for residents (Hancock & Duhl,
1988; Baum & Brown, 1989; Ashton, 1993).
Livable city: The idea of livable cities for healthy environ-
ment relies mainly on two criteria i.e. first, the basic need is to
be fulfilled (i.e. clean air and water, energy and waste manage-
ment) and second, the quality of life is to be ensured. Adequate
greeneries are the most important indicator in achieving the
two criteria for making a city livable. However, some prede-
terminate indicators of the quality of life of city dwellers are
security and safety, educational, medical and recreational facili-
ties, environmental friendliness and accessibility to transporta-
tion. Due to imposed significant variation of constraints on li-
vable city all over the globe, it is increasingly a challenging
task to provide all of these features simultaneously and the most
importantly on a sustai nable basis.
There are many indicators of achieving a sustainable city, a
healthy city and a livable city separately. From the above con-
cept of sustainable-, healthy- and livable-city, it is clear that
planting greeneries or greening a city is the common indicator
of achieving a sustainable, a healthy and a livable city together.
This research thus focused on the common most important in-
dicator of greening city for achieving green urbanism to attain a
sustainable healthy livable city together.
GBCM Model of GU
From the above discussion, it is understood that the first and
the most important criteria for a SHL-city is planting of green-
eries. Trees can be mimicked as the root of greenery-based
Copyright © 2013 SciRes.
20
M. N. NEEMA ET AL.
Copyright © 2013 SciRes. 21
15) Protecting Biodiversity, Balance Ecosystem (
) green urbanism. Thus, planting greeneries wherever space is
available is the basis of the conceptual model of green urbanism.
There are multivariate beneficial functions of urban greeneries
(Mole & Young, 1992; Godefroid, 1997; Petit et al., 1995). In
Figure 2, the multi-function and multi-benefit of greeneries are
pictorially represented by a tree, where the multi-function and
multi-benefit is realized by multiple leaves of the tree resulting
a conceptual model of GU. The idea of GU model is based on
making provision for greeneries in all aspects of city planning.
Our proposed GBCM Model of GU consists of the followings
multiple functions based on benefits bestowed upon humanities
from trees and greeneries in general:
If we quantify each benefit using numerical values, we could
see the total benefits of greeneries in monetary terms. In this
case, we may formulate an equation to calculate the total bene-
fits of a tree and thereby, develop an index of SHL-city as fol-
lows (Equation (1)):
where, ISHL=I ndexforsustainablehealthylivablecity
where, MVBVT=Multivariatebeneficialventureofatree
Green urbanism would undoubtedly play a predominant role
for improving health of people. It provides recreation, ensures a
good urban climate and relays a basis for a SHL-city (Neema &
Ohgai, 2010; Finco & Nijkamp, 2003; Mole & Young, 1992;
Johnston, 1990). GU model attempts to address the pressures
currently encountering in cities around the globe.
1) Improving Soil quality ()
2) Providing Foods and Materials for Shelter ()
3) Absorbing UV-rays (
)
4) Acting as Barrier to Prevent High Noise (
)
5) Absorbing Harmful Air Pollutants (
) Discussion
6) Improving Health of People (
)
7) Offering Opportunities for Recreation (
) Present State-of-the-Art of Greeneries in Dhaka City
8) Reducing Air Temperature (
) Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is one of the major mega-
cities of South Asia. The city is located on the bank of the Buri-
ganga River. Including metropolitan area, Dhaka has a popula-
tion of over 15 million, making it the largest city in Bangladesh.
It is the 9th largest city in the world and also fall among the
most densely populated cities in the world. Figure 3 shows the
9) Encouraging Walking and Bicycling (
)
10) Acting as Barrier to Prevent High Wind (
)
11) Protecting Sunlight and Provide Shade (
)
12) Enhancing Aesthetic Scene and City Beauty (
)
13) Purifying Water resources (
)
14) Preventing Ground Water Depletion ()
Offer
opportunity
for recreationReduce
temperature,
energy use
Encourage
walking and
bicycling
Act as
barrier to prevent
high wind
Protect
sunlight and
provideshade
Enhance
aesthetic scene,
city beauty
Ground water
replenishment
Improve
soil
quality
Provide
foods and
materials
for shelter
Absorb
UV-ray
Act as
barrier to
prevent
high noise
Absorb
harmful air
pollutants
Improve
heath of
people
Reduce landslide,
prevent river
bank erosion
Generate income
and alleviate
poverty
Save from skin
diesease
Keep residential
areas quite,
prevent
ear damage
Reduce greenhouse
gases
Sick people
become healthy
Promotes psychological
well-being, reduces stress
and anxiety
Reduce global
warming and
natural disasters
Improves health
condition of
people
Prevent from
damage of
any structure
Saves from skin
diesease
Generate income
and alleviate
poverty
Provide safe
drinking water
Multi-Function
and
Multi-benefit of
Trees and Plantable
Spaces: Greenery-based
Conceptual Model
of Green Urbanism
Figure 2.
Multivariate beneficial venture of a tre e : A Greenery-Based Model of Green Urbanism.

=1 1
vv
ii
ISHL MVBVT
 
 
 (1)
M. N. NEEMA ET AL.
02
2
km
02
2
km 02
2
km
(a) (b) (c)
02
2
km
02
2
km
(d) (e)
Figure 3.
Growth and expansion of Dhaka city in the scale of time under five major periods: (a) Pre-Mughal period (before 1604), (b)
Mughal period (1604-1764), (c) British period (1764-1947), (d) Pakistan period (1947-1971) and (e) Bangladesh period (after
1971).
growth and expansion of Dhaka city under five major subse-
quent periods.
Before the merciless urbanization in last three decades, Dha-
ka was considered as a very fine city with shaded and leafy
streets, boats plied in the heart of the city, clean air, prome-
naded people on the banks of the river, playing children on
open fields, and a sense of community among its citizens. Un-
fortunately, the environment and living condition of the city are
deteriorating due to unplanned urbanization, deforestation and
haphazard development activity in the city (Neema & Ohgai,
2010; Neema et al., 2008). In one of our previous research, we
analysed the existing conditions of greeneries in Dhaka city.
We showed that greeneries in Dhaka are far below the stan-
dards followed in different countries in the world (Neema et al.,
2008). Moreover, the green spaces are not properly sited. The
present state-of-the-art of greeneries in Dhaka city is shown in
Figure 4.
Is Dhaka a SHL-City?
Currently, Dhaka city is heavily burdened with its escalating
pollution, widening social inequality, increasing break-down of
Copyright © 2013 SciRes.
22
M. N. NEEMA ET AL.
1989 1999 2010
Greeneries Wetlands and water bodiesBuilt-up areas
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 4.
Map showing decreasing rate of green Spaces in Dhaka City during three different periods (Islam et al.,
2013): (a) Green spaces in 1989, (b) Green spaces in 1999 and green spaces in 2010.
community, wretched transport and road system, blatant occu-
pation of land and waterways, and ravaging of public spaces. In
this context, the city is considered as one of worst living cities
in the world. From the ranking of worst living environment in
city, Dhaka is in 2nd position (WHO, 2006). The environment
of Dhaka city is deteriorating continuously day by day due to
unplanned urbanization, destruction of greeneries, deforestation
and haphazard development activity in the city and surrounding
areas. As all the major economic activities are centralized in
Dhaka city, rural-urban migration is naturally increasing at an
alarming rate. Compare with the other megacities in the devel-
oped world, the present health condition of Dhaka city is very
low. The city is over populated and most of the city dwellers
reside in unhygienic conditions. The condition of drainage, se-
werage, sanitation, garbage disposal is unhealthy in most of the
areas in Dhaka city. Besides, there are many slum areas near
the roads and rail lines. Traffic congestion is a common daily
scenario in the city. Number of cars is increasing day by day
which would lead to increasing vehicular emissions Figures
5(a) and (b). The city dwellers suffer from severe pollution like
air, water, noise etc. Figure 6 shows existing traffic congestion
and severe air pollution in Dhaka city. These are leading to cli-
matic change, which in turn will bring many impacts in the city.
In Bangladesh, rivers are drying up and consequently in-
creasing rainfall causing flood disaster. In addition, groundwa-
ter level is dropping down below the sea level, as a result salt-
water is entering into the underground vacuum. Figures 5(c)
and (d) respectively show groundwater depletion and monsoon
rainfall in Dhaka city. Due to deforestation, groundwater level
is depleting and there is abrupt change in rainfall in Dhaka city.
In near future, these will have serious consequences such as
natural disasters.
Moreover, the city does not have adequate greeneries. The
high population density in Dhaka makes it environmentally
unsuitable to live. Dhaka is confronted with a variety of prob-
lems making it a challenging task to revive it as a healthy city.
In (Neema & Ohgai, 2010, 2013), we proposed some optimum
sites for providing more parks and open spaces (greeneries) in
Dhaka city. However, at present, there is no available space for
providing new greeneries in the city and almost all the lands are
developed mostly in unplanned way. The city authority at least
could adopt our proposed greenery-based conceptual model
(GBCM) of green urbanism (GU) to save Dhaka from being
unsustainable, unhealthy, and unlivable (3U-city). The idea of
“healthy city” has only been recently adopted in developing
cities. From 1995 to 1999, the World Health Organization
(WHO) supported healthy city projects (HCPs) only in Cox’s
Bazar city in Bangladesh, Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania,
Fayoum city in Egypt, Managua city in Nicaragua and Quetta
city in Pakistan. But Dhaka is till lack behind the concept of
healthy city. Creation of green oriented Dhaka city may over-
come the problems the city is currently facing and thereby
transforming it into a healthy livable city. In terms of the vital
need, World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 4.23
acres of greeneries per 1000 people. In contrary, the Develop-
ment Area Plan (DAP) in Dhaka has proposed an insufficient
quantity of greeneries (0.13 acres for 1000 people), and even
has failed to allocate land for them. Meanwhile, Hong Kong,
the most crowded city on earth, provides on average 0.71 acres
of greeneries per 1000 people, which is more than five times
the amount of greeneries proposed by DAP. Moreover, the
provision of general public services and social institutions
within walking distance of residences is also vital for the de-
velopment of a lively city. This may reduce traffic congestion
and pollution too. Consolidated, regional and larger facilities
would create inconvenience for the population and lead to
greater congestion and pollution than a more decentralized
approach. Therefore, a smart planning is required in order to
disintegrate Dhaka City into different functional units (Bari &
Efroymson, 2009).
Copyright © 2013 SciRes. 23
M. N. NEEMA ET AL.
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Figure 5.
(a) Groundwater depletion (“Groundwater monitoring survey project, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corpora-
tion”), (b) Monsoon rainfall in Dhaka city (“Meteorological department of Bangladesh”), (c) Number of cars in Dhaka
city (“Road transpor t authority of Bangladesh”) and (d) Number of cars (“Road transport authorit y of Bangladesh”).
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Figure 6.
(a) Haphazard traffic congestion in an intersection point (“Population
growth for a sustainable future”), (b) Severe traffic congestion in front
of a shopping centre (“World class traffic jam”), (c) Severe vehicular
emission (“Pollution in Dhaka city”) and (d) No road side trees to
absorb vehicular emission (“Air pollution costs Bangladesh BDT 124
billion”).
A Proposed SHL-City Model for Dhaka
It is predicted that Dhaka will turn into the 4th largest city in
the world by 2015 with about 23 million populations but it will
remain as the dirtiest city in the world. As Dhaka city is con-
fronted with numerous problems, to make it a sustainable heal-
thy livable (SHL) city, the topmost priority can be given to
green urbanism through the proposed greenery-based concep-
tual model to make the environment livable. Through the initia-
tion of such a model, the city may be recovere d gradua lly from
the unsustainable unhealthy unlivable (3U) situation. If the au-
thority (through city corporations) can aware people properly
about importance of greeneries using plantable spaces and trees
for our life, Dhaka may revive as a SHL-city within a few years.
Figure 7(a) shows the initiatives of the GBCM to adopt GU in
Dhaka city. To fulfill all the initiatives within a planned period,
the government as well as each citizen would take step in one’s
own position to make Dhaka a SHL-city. The initiatives of the
GBCM are described as follows:
1) First, it is necessary to make provision for trees and gree-
neries along both sides of road network of Dhaka city. In this
case, the size of the trees to be planted will vary according to
the hierarchy of roads. For example, by the sides of the primary
road, large sized tress like “krishnochura” trees could be plant-
ed. This will not only improve living environment but also give
an excellent scenic view of Dhaka. Moreover, these trees
Copyright © 2013 SciRes.
24
M. N. NEEMA ET AL.
Figure 7.
(a) Steps of GBCM model for GU in Dhaka city (b) Benefits of applying GBCM of GU in Dhaka city and (c)
Future Dhaka could be a SHL-city.
could provide shade to the people walk through the footpaths. If
the city authority could adopt the first initiative of GBCM, it
would be easier to achieve the goal GBCM model.
2) The second initiative is to plant small size trees in road di-
viders and channelization devices. This will reduce both sound
and pollution level of the moving vehicles. This will also give
outcome like the first initiatives.
3) It is important to encourage tree plantation in the car par-
king space, as it could a ct as a barrier to devel op heat-islan ds.
4) If there is no sufficient space surrounding buildings, a
good initiative is to grow flower and vegetable gardens in the
rooftops of the buildings. It will give healthy foods as well as
keep the buildings comfortable by balancing temperature in
summer and winter.
5) This initiative strongly suggests to stop cutting of trees, as
it will imbalance climatic condition. If one person cut a tree, he
should plant a tree.
6) It is necessary to decorate spaces among buildings by
flowering plants. It will improve local climate as well as beau-
ty.
7) If parks and playgrounds do not have adequate greeneries,
they will loose their identity. Because if people do not feel bet-
ter in the park, they will not use it.
8) It is required to stop converting vegetated land uses to
other land uses in Dhaka city.
9) If we want to make Dhaka a SHL-city, it is suggested to
plant greeneries wherever spaces is available.
However, to make Dhaka a SHL-city GBCM model is re-
quired to adopt. Such an approach could ensure the provision of
sustainable transport, clean and safe environment, sustainable
land use, reliable and sustainable food, water, e nergy supply , with
an effective garbage removal system, healthier sanitation and
sewerage sy stems, sustainable dra inage system, et c. Figure 7(b).
Sustainable transport can be achieved by planting trees by the
side of the roads, inside parking spaces, dividers and channeli-
zation devices (implementing initiative 1, 2 and 3). Sustainable
environment and land use can be achieved by implementing all
the proposed initiatives 1 to 9.
Then, the implementation of GBCM of GU will transform
Dhaka where people will enjoy a SHL-urban lifestyle Figure
7(c). Figure 8 shows few examples of outward looking of a
green-city with planting greeneries in roadside space, walls,
medians and footpaths in planned cities. We could mimic Dha-
ka as a future city with at least planted greeneries like such beau-
ties to revive Dhaka from its severe environmental pollution.
Conclusion
This paper presents a greenery-based conceptual model for
green urbanism. The model can be envisaged as the best, sim-
plest and easiest way of transforming an unsustainable unheal-
thy unlivable city to a sustainable healthy livable city. It also
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 8.
(a) Road side trees (“Roadside trees”), (b) Greeneries in road side walls
(“Interstate sound walls”) and (c) Trees on median and footpaths
(“Street images”).
Copyright © 2013 SciRes. 25
M. N. NEEMA ET AL.
examines the present living condition of Dhaka city and recom-
mends to revive it as a sustainable healthy livable city in fore-
seeable days. To make Dhaka a sustainable healthy livable city,
it is required to ensure reasonable quality of life, adequate food,
shelter, safe drinking water, clean pollution free environment,
good transportation, proper utility services, proper education
and better economic condition. A considerable part of these ba-
sic needs can be provided by implementing greenery-based mo-
del for green urbanism. In addition, greeneries in Dhaka can
create an ample of opportunities for food production, fodder for
livestock, plod for housing, protected watersheds for clean wa-
ter, sound recreational environments including a variety of en-
trepreneurial opportunities for employment. Greeneries would
provide citizens with aesthetically pleasing work and home en-
vironments as well as opportunities for recreation and education
thereby improving mental and physical health of citizens. In
such a scenario, Dhaka may revive as a green city where the
rush for building might consider the foremost need of greener-
ies at every available nook and corner of the city, where build-
ings could be mimic ked as pavilions in a garde n. The greenery-
based conceptual model with green urbanism thus can be im-
plemented to secure a healthy sustainable future for the urban
populations of Dhaka as well as other cities in Bangladesh.
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