Assessing the Role of Urban Governance in Promoting Sustainable Cities and Communities: Evidence from Four City Corporations in Bangladesh

This study investigates the governance practices and their impact on urban sustainability in four city corporations in Bangladesh—Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal, and Gazipur—through the lens of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11). Employing a mixed-methods approach, primary data was collected from 1200 residents and key informant interviews (KIIs) with local authorities. The study reveals significant infrastructure inadequacies, particularly in drainage and waste management systems, with Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) facing the most severe challenges. Disaster management practices are found to be insufficient, especially in GCC, highlighting the need for more robust community-based disaster risk management. The prevalence of illegal land occupation in GCC poses threats to local development and environmental conservation, contrasting with milder issues in other cities. Urban parks, crucial for environmental health, suffer from poor maintenance and accessibility, particularly in GCC and Sylhet City Corporation (SCC). Exploratory factor analysis identifies four key factors—illegal activities, facilities, management, and environment of entertainment places—impacting urban governance and sustainability. Significant variation in the SDG- 11 index among the city corporations indicates differing levels of progress, with SCC on a better track compared to RCC, BCC, and GCC. The study’s policy implications stress the need for modernizing infrastructure, adopting green technologies, improving disaster management, and strengthening land governance.