Policy Documents Review Chapter:

We have selected a bunch of policy documents, both international and national documents to
review the policies, plans, or strategies. These documents contain global commitments, national
and sectoral level policies, and strategies to identify the gaps between the policy frameworks,
addressing the improvement of the overall environment of the slum areas.
In the following table, we’ve sorted out a total of 23 reviewed documents that are divided into
the following categories:

Table: List of Documents Reviewed

Type of Documents Title of the Documents

Global Documents  SDG-1 No Poverty

National Documents
 SDG-3 To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for
all of all ages
 SDG-6 Clean Water and Sanitation for All
 SDG-11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
 Challenges of Slum (UN-HABITAT)
 The Human Rights-Based Approach to Housing and Slum
Upgrading
 A Practical Guide to Design, Plan and Execute City-Wide
Slum Upgrading Program
 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Housing for All (Urban), 2016
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 8 Five Year Plan (July 2020- June 2025)
 The Private Residential Land Development Rule 2004
 Dhaka City Corporation Act, 2009

Sectoral Documents  National Housing Policy, 2016

 Khas Land Management Policies
 Pro-Poor Strategy for Water and Sanitation Sector in
Bangladesh, 2005
 Sector Development Plan 2011-2025
 National Strategy for Water Supply and Sanitation, 2014
 National Policy for Arsenic Mitigation, 2004
 Bangladesh Water Act, 2013
 DWASA Annual Report 2018-2019
 Solid Waste Management and Sanitation
 Brief Review of Policy Documents
Global and National Policies:
SDG 1 No Poverty
Goal 1 calls for an end to poverty in all its manifestations by 2030. It also aims to ensure social
protection for the poor and vulnerable, increase access to basic services, and support people
harmed by climate-related extreme events and other economic, social, and environmental shocks
and disasters. The urban poor and slum dwellers are also included in the objectives of this goal.
(UNDP, 2020)
SDG 3 Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-being for All at All ages:
SDG goal 3 deals with health issues. It has 13 targets and 28 indicators, but among them, only
3.3, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9 and 3.a is relevant to slum upgrading and they contain 15 indicators. 5 of
the indicators discuss different types of diseases like AIDS, Malaria and provide guidelines for
reducing the diseases. The other indicators discussSD issues about the mortality rates, drug
abuse, sexual and reproductive issues, less affordability of medicines, and essential health care
and tobacco control. Those are the common issues in the slums of Bangladesh. The SDG goal 3
guidelines will provide many solutions to those problems of slum upgrading. (UN General
Assembly, 2015)
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
The SDG 11 is to "Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable" as the world becomes
increasingly urbanized, many countries face growing numbers of slum dwellers, worsening air
quality, and insufficient basic urban services and infrastructure. The targets of SDG 11 include
investment in public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and
management in a participatory and inclusive way.
Challenges of Slum, 2013
The Challenge of Slums is a global report on human settlements which was published by United
Nations Human Settlement Program in 2003. The Challenge of Slums presents the first global
assessment of slums, emphasizing their problems and prospects. It presents estimates of the numbers
of urban slum dwellers and examines the factors that underlie the formation of slums, as well as their
social, spatial, and economic characteristics and dynamics.

A Practical Guide to Design, Plan, and Execute Citywide Slum Upgrading Program, 2014:
This guide advocates a citywide approach to slum upgrading, from a fundamental shift of haphazard
project interventions to a citywide approach. This program has some steps regarding initiating and
setting up the program; design, implementation of projects, and post-implementation strategies. This
upgrading program requires including slums in the city’s overall development plans but provokes
imposing unrealistic standards and regulations. In the case of upgrading the Dhaka Match Colony,
this policy document can provide a good guideline.

Eighth Five Year Plan (July 2020 - June 2025):

The eighth Five Year Plan was published by the General Economics Division (GED) of the
Bangladesh Planning Commission in December 2020. Its main objective is to start the
implementation of PP2021-2041 in a way that brings Bangladesh closer to the goals of achieving
UMIC status by 2031 and attaining SDGs targets through managing the challenges of LDC
graduation, which will also help to eliminate extreme poverty by 2031. This book is thus very
important in reviewing what the GoB plans with regards to the slum population and will also
help in the implementation process of the plan.
Dhaka City Corporation Act 2009:
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DCC Act was published on 15 October 2009, published by the Local Government Division as
Bangladesh Gadget Extra Appraisal, the policy was taken by City Corporation: Schedule 3
section 41. The act shows some important indications for slum upgrading on health, water,
sanitation, city planning, education, social welfare, public security, and waste management.
Some of them are likely to establish and manage Primary Health complex and peripatetically
health units for people, making cannel for people, establishing a fire brigade to extinguish and
siege fire.
Sector Development Plan (FY 2011-2025):
SDP was published by the Local Government Division, Ministry of Local Government in
November 2011. It provides a framework for planning, implementing, coordinating, and
monitoring all activities in the Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) sector. Applicable for a
period of 15 years. The period was divided into long‐term planning, medium‐term planning, and
short‐term planning, each of five years’ duration and will coincide with the Five‐Year Plan
cycles of the government’s development planning. SDP is a quality guideline for the water and
sanitation part of slum upgrading.
National Policy for Arsenic Mitigation, 2014:
Published in 2014 by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives, this
policy provides a guideline for mitigating the effect of arsenic on people and the environment
sustainably. This policy also supplements the National Water Policy 1998, National Policy for
Safe Water Supply and Sanitation 1998 in fulfilling the national goals of poverty alleviation,
public health, and food security. This policy invokes that alternative water supply has to be
implemented for ensured access to safe water for drinking and cooking if the slum water contains
arsenic.
Housing Related Policies:
The Human Rights-Based Approach to Housing and Slum Upgrading, 2017:
This policy document has been prepared by UN-HABITAT. It is a guide for housing and slum
upgrading practitioners in using the human rights-based approach in their interventions. UN-
Habitat’s Participatory Slum Upgrading Program (PSUP) works towards the progressive
realization of human rights for slum dwellers, and Sustainable Development Goal 11. PSUP has
the following mechanisms like Memorandum of Understanding incorporating the 8 PSUP
principles, Community Managed Funds (CMFs), City-wide slum upgrading strategy (CWSUS),
and Country / City teams. Applying the HRBA has some steps like human rights analysis,
causality analysis, role pattern analysis, and capacity gap analysis.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Housing for All (Urban), 2016:
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PMAY-U, a flagship mission of Govt. of India was launched on 25 June 2015. This mission
addresses urban housing shortages including slum dwellers by ensuring a pucca house to all
eligible urban households by the year 2022. The mission aims to seek affordable housing
solutions with the cooperation of the public and private sectors, also meet the requirements of
structural safety against natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, landslides. This project has
similarities with the Dhaka Match Colony slum upgradation.
The Private Residential Land Development Rule, 2004
Published by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works in 2004, this paper is a guideline to how
housing and provision of basic amenities can be done by the private sectors. It provides the basic
standards of land development in terms of housing, land ownership, and rehabilitation, and basic
amenities. It is applicable for the areas that are included in Masterplan according to The Town
Improvement Act, 1953 and The Building Construction Act, 1952. The projects are taken by
private organizations.
National Housing Policy, 2016
National Housing Authority prepared this policy with a vision to ensure accessibility of people
from all strata of society to suitable housing, and to improve housing and settlements towards
sustainable development. National Housing Policy deals with Slum and Squatter settlements,
under section 4.7; regarding attitude control (4.7.1), rehabilitation management (4.7.2),
improvement of infrastructure (4.7.3), the feasibility of application (4.7.4), and detailed
guidelines (4.7.5). Some of the strategies proposed focus on ensuring basic rights for slum
dwellers under section 5.1; where it mentions arranging to house for low-income people in the
proper location (5.1.6) and ensuring the provision of safe water and sewage disposal for
underprivileged and vulnerable communities (5.1.7).
Khas Land Management Policies:
Khas land is the government-owned fallow land, where nobody has property rights. It is deemed
available for allocation according to government priorities. According to Agricultural Khas Land
Management Policy, 1997, Agricultural Khas lands are given to landless families. On the other
hand, Non-agricultural Khas Lands are given to families who have become destitute by natural
disasters or families legally resettled by the government according to Non-agricultural Khas
Land Management Policy, 1995. Both policies are published and implemented by the Ministry of
Land.
Water and Sanitation Related Policies:
SDG 6: Ensure Availability and Sustainability Management of Water and Sanitation for
All:
Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) the goal 6 is for water and sanitation. The
goal has two targets. Target 6.1 is to make sure every part of the world has universal and
equitable access to safe drinking water. On the other hand, target 6.2 is to achieve access to
adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene. As we know in Bangladesh most of the people
living in slums have no access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities, so the
indicators and guidelines provide by SDG 6 will work as a shield to the water and sanitation
issues. (UN General Assembly, 2015)
PRO POOR STRATEGY for Water and Sanitation Sector in Bangladesh, 2005:
The document was published in February 2005 by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural
Development & Cooperatives. This policy provides a complete guideline in how to identify,
target, and administrate relief to the hardcore poor regarding water and sanitation. It defines a
hardcore poor household as those who are landless, homeless, or day laborers owning little land
or rented accommodation and households whose family heads are disabled or very old. As slum
dwellers often fall in that category, this document becomes a framework on how to standardize
the water and sanitation services in the slum.
National Strategy for Water Supply and Sanitation, 2014:
The National Strategy for Water Supply and Sanitation 2014 is an integral part of the Sector
Development Plan (SDP) 2011-25 for the water and sanitation sector in Bangladesh. The
strategy provides the Sector Context, Goal and Objectives, Guiding Principles, Framework,
Strategic Direction, Institutional Arrangement, and Implementation Plan for water supply and
sanitation promotion at the national, regional, and local level and also in slum areas. This
document was published by the Policy Support Unit (PSU) under the Ministry of Local
Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Water Act, 2013:
th
Water Act was published on 29 December 2013 by the Government of the People’s Republic of
Bangladesh under the Ministry of Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Legislative and
Parliamentary Division Affairs. This is an act to make provisions for integrated development,
management, abstractions, distribution, use, protection, and conservation of water resources.
This document stated “Right to use water” for the first time in our policy which is a prime issue
in the slum areas.
Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) Annual Report 2018-2019:
The report is related to ADB, World Bank, UNICEF, Water Aid Bangladesh, and much more
local and international NGOs; and mainly for water and sanitation issues. It is a good model for
tackling water and sanitation problems especially for the slum dwellers and the floating people.
This report suggests 3 types of water supply lines for the low-income communities like slums;
namely water point stand post, water point reservoir, and ATM booth.
Solid Waste Management and Sanitation:
Several projects, strategy documents, and ordinances related to solid waste management and
sanitation were reviewed because of their importance in slums. Community-Based Urban Solid
Waste Management in Dhaka, 1998 and Barrel Type Composting for Slums in Dhaka, 1998
were two such projects. They were supported by UNDP. Urban Management Policy Statement,
1998, the Dhaka Municipal Ordinance 1983, the Environment Policy 1992, Urban Management
Policy Statement 1998, Environment Conservation Rule 1997. All of them promoted solid waste
management and sanitation.
Table: Comparative Matrix Identifying the Gap among Policies:
Housing
National and Sectoral International Policies
Policies
Access to adequate, Construction of houses
safe, and affordable up to 30 sq. meter with
housing and basic basic utilities like water,
services, and upgrade sanitation, sewerage,
slums by 2030. electricity, etc. (GoI,
(GED, 2020) 2016)
Non-agricultural Khas Each PSUP must
land can be distributed develop community-
among the family who initiated and managed
has become destitute by local projects supported
natural disasters or any by the Community
family legally resettled Managed Funds and
by the government. create an effective team
(MoL, 1995). with decision-makers.
(HRBA, 2017)
Minimum 25 feet access Households with more
road width and 350 than two persons per
people/acre for non- room. The alternative is
government residential to set a minimum
projects (MHPW, 2004) standard for floor area
per person (UNHSP,
2003)
Water
Right to potable water A settlement has an
and water for hygiene inadequate drinking
and sanitation shall be water supply if less than
treated as the highest 50% of households have
priority. (PSU, 2013) an improved water
supply (UN-Water
2003)
The drinking water must Piped water, boreholes
meet the national water or tube wells, protected
quality standards. dug wells, protected
(LGRD, 2005) springs, and delivered
SDG Indicators Gap Analysis
Insecurity of tenure, Distinct criteria about
unavailability of housing are all same in
services, and this document,
infrastructure will be therefore, no gaps
categorized as whatsoever.
inadequate housing.
(SDG 11)
Ensuring total adult Secure tenure ship and
population with secure proper land rights have
tenure rights to land, got highlighted in both
with legally recognized the international and
documentation and who sectoral documents, and
perceive their rights to properly reflected in
land as secure, by sex SDG 1.
and by type of tenure
(SDG 1.4.2)
Some standards have
been mentioned in both
the sectoral and national
documents, but there
was no SDG standard
for housing in the
slums.
By 2030, achieve Water right was
universal and equitable distinctly pointed out in
access to safe and both national and SDG
affordable drinking policies.
water for all. (SDG 6.1)
A water body is Water quality Standard
classified as "good" is mentioned in both
quality if at least 80% national and SDG
of monitoring values policy except in UN-
 water are considered like physical or Habitat.
safe water systems. chemical parameters
(UN-Habitat, 2020) meet target quality
levels. (SDG 6.1)
The minimum level of The daily water supply At least basic drinking Daily per capita water
water consumption is 20 of a person should be water represents an supply was not
liters per capita per day around 20 liters within a improved source within mentioned but specific
for household chores. collectible range. 30 minutes’ round trip water availability
The source of safe (UNHSP, 2003) to collect water (SDG parameter was
drinking water should 6.3.1) mentioned in SDG.
be within 50 meters of
the household premise.
(LGRD, 2005)

Testing new tube-wells, A safely managed No international policy

screening and drinking water service has been found about
monitoring potential is defined as one located policies emphasizing
contaminated tube- on-premises, available water supply
wells, and using arsenic when needed and free infrastructures.
mitigating technologies. from contamination. Both SDG and
Arsenic Standard 10 (SDG 6.1.1) international policies
mg/l (PSU,2013) come up with arsenic
mitigation standards.
Sanitation

A ‘hygienic latrine’ will Flush/pour-flush to the A safely managed Almost identical

have confinement of piped sewer system, sanitation facility is definition of safe
feces, sealing of the septic tanks or pit where excreta are safely sanitation from all
passage between the latrines, ventilated disposed of. A basic national International
squat hole and the pit, improved latrines, handwashing facility is and SDG policies. But
and venting out of foul composting toilets, or defined by facilitating SDG also focused on
gases generated in the pit latrines with slabs handwashing with soap handwashing which was
pit to keep the latrine are considered as and water in the also needed to mention
odor-free. (LGRD, improved sanitation Household. (SDG 6) in national policy
2005) systems. (UN-Water
2020)

Subject to a maximum The excreta disposal Each household has to The different policies
of two households (or system is considered use separate latrines for described many
10 persons) for one adequate if it is private ensuring a safe households sharing the
latrine, subject to a or shared by a sanitation system. (SDG same latrine differently.
maximum of 10 persons maximum of two 6.2.1) In national policy, the
per latrine. (LGRD, households (UN- shared number is more
2005) Habitat,2020) as it is based on our
huge population.
Expanding National WSSCC advocates for SDG didn’t took
Sanitation Campaign improved sanitation and initiative for improving
(NSC) with LG at the hygiene for the most sanitation facilities.
center to ensure vulnerable and Also, no standard about
sanitation for all. marginalized people in updating existing latrine
Update existing latrines the world (UN-Habitat, conditions is mentioned
(LGRD.2005) 2020) in international and
SDG policies.

Basic Amenities
Enough reserved space By 2030, provide
for different utility universal access to safe,
facilities and protected and accessible, green
by related agencies like- and public spaces,
WASA, Municipal particularly for women
Authority, DESCO, and children, older
Titas Gas, etc. (MHPW, persons, and persons
2004) with disabilities (SDG,
11.4)
The need for universal
access to green and
public spaces has been
recognized in both
national and global
policies.

Health
Establish and manage Achieve universal
Primary health care health coverage,
complex and health care including
unit for people. (LGRD, financial risk protection,
2009) (SDG 3.8)
While the SDG decrees
universal health care for
all, the national policies
only mandate primary
health care.

Disaster
Reduce the number of By 2030, build the
deaths and decrease the resilience for those in
economic losses relative vulnerable situations to
climate-related extreme
to GDP caused by
events
disasters with the focus and other environmental
on protecting the poor shocks and disasters
and people in vulnerable (SDG 1.5)
situations by 2030
(GED.2020)
Poverty Reduction
National and Global
policies both focused on
resilience and reduction
of loss caused by
disasters. But SDG also
takes into account the
economic, social, and
environmental shocks.

Decrease incidence of By 2030, reduce at least SDG focuses on

urban poverty to 10% by half the proportion of reducing poverty based
by 2025 (GED, 2020) men, women, and on gender and age but
children of all ages the national policy aims
(SDG 1.2) to reduce urban poverty
first.
Policy document review is an important part of the literature review. These document analyses
are essential to our slum upgradation project. If we correctly analyze to pros and cons of these
documents and find possible loopholes, we can implement new and improved policies for our
project and the stakeholders will be benefitted.