Nearly nine years ago, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) expanded by adding 18 new wards, covering 114 square kilometers, to improve civic services. However, despite being incorporated into the city, residents in these areas still lack essential urban amenities. Development has been sluggish, leading to constant struggles for the people of Uttarkhan and Dakshinkhan.

On one side of the Airport Road, planned residential areas like Uttara offer modern infrastructure, while on the other side, residents barely receive a fraction of the necessary civic facilities. Roads in these areas remain in poor condition, mosquito infestations are worsening due to unfinished projects, and residents continue paying utility bills despite not receiving proper services.

Locals complain that while the city corporation collects taxes, their daily hardships persist. Many regret building homes here, as the promised improvements never materialized. In May 2016, 18 new wards—including areas like Satarkul, Beraid, Dumni, Middle Badda, Harirampur, Uttarkhan, and Dakshinkhan—were added to the North City Corporation. Yet, nearly a decade later, most areas remain untouched by significant development. Residents express frustration over the slow pace and subpar quality of the work, with some projects starting only to be abandoned midway. Even without monsoon rains, waste and stagnant water flood the neighborhoods, making daily commutes and emergency travel especially difficult.

The DNCC acknowledges the ongoing issues and states that around Tk 1,847 crore has been allocated for land acquisition to improve roads in these wards. DNCC Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique admits that the city has yet to ensure adequate civic facilities for these residents. He assures that once ongoing projects are completed, the situation will improve, with full implementation expected within the next five years.

Urban planning experts stress the need for coordinated development to prevent unplanned expansion. Professor Dr. Shamsul Hoque from the Civil Engineering Department of BUET warns that the unstructured growth on Dhaka’s periphery resembles uncontrolled cancerous expansion. If urbanization continues this way, he cautions, the entire country could turn into a chaotic sprawl.