Fear of Eviction: The Case of Slum and Squatter Dwellers in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Nearly one-third of more than 12 million residents of Dhaka, Bangladesh, live in some 4,500 unauthorized slums and squatter settlements (bustees) dispersed all across the city. In addition to crowded and non-hygienic living conditions, bustees in Dhaka have turned into a safe haven for criminals. Considering this, a previous government administration initiated a bustee demolition program in 1999. Confronted by severe resistance, the government finally abandoned this program. However, threat of eviction did not completely disappear from the minds of bustee dwellers. The objectives of this paper are to explore the perceived level of fear of eviction possessed by residents of bustees in Dhaka and to identify the bases of such fear. Data collected through a questionnaire survey suggest that the overwhelming majority of respondents fear eviction and do not want to return to their villages. The survey data reveal that past eviction and previous bustee experience, length of stay in Dhaka, and having close friends/relatives who live in Dhaka are important determinants of respondent fear of eviction. Based on the results of this study, recommendations are made for resettlement of bustee dwellers in Dhaka.

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