COVID-19 was a surprise to Dhaka, as to most of the world. After the 1971 war of liberation, this was perhaps the first calamity that affected everybody in the city — regardless of socio-economic status. In this chapter, the authors investigate how the people and government have responded to and managed the pandemic, with the aim to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the city in dealing with a crisis. Based on a literature and media review, the chapter argues that centrally initiated and enforced initiatives are ineffective in a city with a widely heterogeneous population and a large informal sector. The most effective responses were those that were community-led but supported by the government. The Government of Bangladesh was quick to take a back seat in the city’s response and played a facilitating role for communities and volunteer groups. These informal groups were able to mobilise resources and effectively manage crisis response at a scale that was not expected at the onset of the crisis.
Authors: Ahmed, Shamael; Rabbani, Mehnaz
Type: Book Chapter
Year: 2023
