Summary

Khulna has experienced rapid and exclusionary urban growth over the past three decades, bringing new residents and settlements while reducing open space, green areas, and water systems. The city continues to face significant challenges, including social and spatial inequality, inadequate infrastructure and services, unemployment, a weak economic base, waterlogging, and poor waste management. This research defines fair urban transition (FUT) as urban transformation that advances a sustainable future while ensuring that the benefits of urban development are equitably shared, particularly by marginalized and vulnerable communities. Led by the River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) and FrameWorks Institute, with support from Porticus Bangladesh, the project aims to develop evidence-based narratives, communication tools, and strategies that can build public understanding and support for fair, sustainable, and participatory urban development in Khulna and other Bangladeshi cities.

Phase I of the research, conducted from March 2024 to February 2025, maps the cultural and communications landscape surrounding urban transition in Khulna. The report first develops an expert story of FUT based on interviews with advocates and stakeholders working on urban policy, climate change, and social and environmental justice. It then identifies the cultural models—shared assumptions and ways of thinking—that shape how Khulna residents understand urban growth, governance, justice, and climate change. By comparing expert and public perspectives, the research identifies key areas of alignment and divergence, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for FUT communications. The findings provide a foundation for developing and testing more effective communications strategies in Phase II, with the broader goal of strengthening support for inclusive urban policies and helping create more prosperous, sustainable, and just cities in Bangladesh.

Illustrations by Nasheen Jahan, justURBAN