Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)

Dr. Afsana Haque

Professor
Specialization

Urban and Regional Planning

Academic Biography

Dr. Haque has been working in the field of urban and regional planning for more than 15 years. She started her academic career as a Lecturer in the Department of URP, BUET in 2003. Her doctoral research work was on optimizing urban land use allocation from stakeholders’ perspective. Her field of interest also involves urban economics, modelling of regional economic structure, and environmental economics. Dr. Haque teaches planning theories and techniques, land use planning, regional planning, urban economics, and resource economics in the department. Other than teaching, she has also worked with several national and international organizations in different capacities. She is a member of Bangladesh Regional Science Association (BRSA), Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) and Women Architects Engineers Planners Association (WAEPA), Bangladesh.

Contact
Educational Information
  • Ph.D., The University of Tokyo, 2008
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, 2005
  • Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (BURP), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, 2003
Research Accounts
Consultancies
  • Research associate, HEQEP (Higher Quality Education Enhancement Program) sub-project “Modernization of data analysis and simulation lab in the Department of Urban & Regional Planning, BUET” under UGC. 2012
  • Co-Investigator, research project “Climate Change, Submergence and Rice Yield: Evidence from Coastal Barisal, Bangladesh” funded by the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE). 2013
  • Consultant, 'Studies for Setting up BRAC Campus' undertaken by Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation (BRTC), BUET, funded by BRAC University. 2014
  • Project Coordinator, 'Engaging Young Minds to Understand and Communicate Urban Problems' funded by The Edward M. Kennedy Center for Public Service and the Arts (the EMK Center). 2015
  • Member, Research Team, "A study on potential of community initiative for addressing transport and mobility need of neighborhoods in Dhaka". 2016
  • Member, Research Group, 'Planning and Prioritisation of Rural Roads in Bangladesh' funded by UKaid through Regional Community Access Partnership (ReCAP) programme. 2016
  • Resource Person, Training course on River Engineering for BWDB Engineers under BWDB Capacity Development Program of Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Program (FRERMIP). 2016
  • Training Expert, Urban Climate Change Partnership for Bangladesh Project within the mainstreaming climate change into urban policies project (Cities and Climate Change Initiative Programme), jointly implemented by UN-Habitat, UNESCAP and UNEP. 2017
  • Resource Person, Foundation course on Social Science Research Methodology, organized by CRDS and Department of Urban and Regional Planning, BUET. 2017
  • Member, Consulting Team for Preparation of Terms of Reference for Upazila Master Plan project under URMIDP of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), GoB. 2020
  • Resource Person, Training on Interactions between Land Use and Transportation organized by Department of Urban and Regional Planning, BUET in collaboration with Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA). 2020
  • Training Coordinator, Training on Interactions between Land Use and Transportation organized by Department of Urban and Regional Planning, BUET in collaboration with Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA). 2020
  • Team Leader, Research project tiled ‘Urban Localized Pollution in the Context of Climate Change’ in collaboration with ICCCAD, for PSTC and BYEI. 2021
  • Resource Person in four sessions, Training on Geographic Information System (GIS) and AutoCAD organized by Department of Urban and Regional Planning, BUET in collaboration with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). 2021
  • Training Coordinator, Training on Geographic Information System (GIS) and AutoCAD organized by Department of Urban and Regional Planning, BUET in collaboration with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). 2021
  • Team Leader, Research project titled 'Political Economy of Urban Green Spaces of Dhaka City' funded by COMPASS program under US Forest Department International Programs. (2022)
Research Interests
  • Spatial Analysis
  • Land/Space Use Optimization
  • Econometric Analysis
  • Modeling of Regional Economies
  • Game Theory and its Application in Planning Problems
All Publications
Sayeda Laizu Aktar, Moon Islam, Afsana Haque
Predicting the spatiotemporal changes of an agriculturally vulnerable region of Bangladesh
Springer, Applied Geomatics, 2024
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
Agricultural land, the primary factor of food production, is essential for ensuring food security. Land constraints have led policymakers to promote agricultural intensification to achieve higher production, which is no longer sustainable. In Bangladesh, the consistent decline of agricultural land at a regional scale is a rising concern for food security. This study intends to assess the spatiotemporal changes in agricultural lands concerning food security, including temporary cropland, permanent cropland, and fallow land. LANDSAT satellite imagery for 1995, 2010, and 2022 were categorized using a hybrid image classification method. However, the study limits to produce higher accuracy as compromised due to the spatial resolution of LANDSAT imagery. MLP-CA Markov chain model was used to predict the agricultural land for 2041 by employing driver variables. The study finds around 15% loss in agricultural land from 1995–2022 with significant losses (12%) between 2010–2022. The built-up area is doubled after each of the time periods. Temporary crop-producing lands are declining quickly and converted rapidly (around 30%) to built-up areas between 2010–2022. Notably, agricultural land near riverine zones rapidly converts to built-up areas, hinting at potential environmental consequences. The model predicts around 10% loss in agricultural land with a likely conversion around cities and riverine areas, driven by infrastructure development. Contradictory sectoral policies have driven such conversion without effective land use policy. Hence, the study implies formulating a physical plan and urbanization policy for growth control and management, as well as land zoning and master plan for protecting valuable agricultural land.
Mohammad Ridwan Tanvir, Afsana Haque
Assessment of Development Plans for Small Urban Areas of Bangladesh: Remote Sensing and GIS-based Approach
Springer, Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy, 2023
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
Assessment of development plans particularly in terms of land use and land cover can strategically support conventional land use planning practices. This paper attempts to assess the land cover related proposals mentioned in the development plans of two small urban areas, namely Madaripur and Rajoir of Bangladesh, which are rapidly growing and facing shrinkage of agricultural lands and water bodies by such growth. Land cover data for the study have been extracted from Landsat satellite images of 1995, 2005 and 2015. The classified satellite data have been employed in a Multi-Layer Perceptron Markov model to predict the land cover scenario of the study areas for 2035, the terminal year for the development plans. The proposed development plan and the modelpredicted land cover maps of 2035 are both quantitatively and spatially compared. The study also determines the degree of conformance and identifies the affected sites within respective protected areas. The analysis reveals significant mismatches between the development plans and the model predictions for the unconstrained simulation of the model, whereas fewer differences are observed in the case of guided simulation. The results imply that lack of implementation of the development plans may result in undesired land cover transformations. It recommends employing remote sensing and GIS-based models to support the land-use plan-making process in the development authorities.
Meher Afjun Faria, Md. Efti Manna Tonmoy, Afsana Haque
Land use classification system in Bangladesh: Inconsistencies, their planning implications, and the way forward
Sciendo, GeoScape, 2023
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
A unified land use classification system with mutually exclusive definitions of each land use category helps to avoid inconsistencies in the planning process and, most importantly, ensures effective implementation of development control tools. In Bangladesh, the planning authorities prepare land use plans by independently deciding the land use classes. This study aims to explore the nature of inconsistencies in the land use classification systems followed by different planning institutions in Bangladesh and understand their corresponding consequences. To conduct the study, land use plans prepared by different planning institutions have been collected. Based on descriptive analysis, the study shows that the types of land use classes in land use plans change over time, between administrative units, and in different parts of the country. Even authorities are not consistent in maintaining a classification system in their subsequent plans. Moreover, the plans retain ambiguous definitions of land use classes. The classification and definitions of the land use classes are not well linked with different national acts, rules, and policies relating to environmental and natural conservation, which makes it difficult to control development and protect natural, environmental, and cultural resources. This study has the potential to help us understand the importance of a unified land use classification system. Utilizing concept hierarchy, the study has also developed a system for land use classification in Bangladesh that will assist in future research, planning, and policymaking.
Md. Musleh Uddin Hasan, A S M Abdul Quium, Mashrur Rahman, Farzana Khatun, Mohammad Shakil Akther , Afsana Haque, Sarwar Jahan, Ishrat Islam, Tanjeeb Ahmed, Tanvir Hossain Shubho
A Methodology for Planning and Prioritisation of Rural Roads in Bangladesh
MDPI, Sustainability , 2022
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
Local government bodies and other concerned agencies in developing countries spend a considerable amount of money on rural road development. However, in the absence of any robust and systematic methodology, road development largely relies on ad-hoc decisions and subjective judgement of public officials. Such a decision-making process often leads to inefficient resource allocation bypassing equity and long-term societal benefits. Although there are some established methodologies for road network planning, complexities exist in applying those methods. First, most of the established methods are not suitable for rural road development, particularly regarding the volume and nature of traffic on them. Second, some methods are highly complex and lack practical applicability. Third, road development planning should not be top-down alone but ensure the participation of local stakeholders. Given these limitations, this study proposes a methodology—Rural Road Planning and Prioritisation Model (RPPM). It consists of two major components (i) developing a core network in participation with local stakeholders and (ii) prioritisation of roads based on Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA). The proposed method is piloted in one district, and a web-based software is also developed for practical implementation by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh. The paper also discusses the results of the pilot study.
Md. Musleh Uddin Hasan, Afsana Haque, Ishrat Islam, Mohammad Shakil Akther
Potential of Introducing Community-based Mobility Scheme (CoMS) in Dhaka: An Exploratory Study
Social Science Research Council, Planning Division, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh (GoB), Multidisciplinary Journal of Social Science Research, 2020
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
Sadia Afrose, Ahmad Mojtoba Riyadh, Afsana Haque
Cores of Dhaka city: area delimitation and comparison of their characteristics
Springer, Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science , 2019
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
City cores, widely known as central business districts, are the most important part of a city that is also considered as economic center or business administration point. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is a mega city with ever-increasing population. Its gradual development pattern on the north has induced the growth of many cores. Being a small city with many cores, Dhaka possesses a unique characteristic that allows the functional area of these cores to hold characteristics of their own. This study aimed to find out the characteristic of these cores by identifying the functional area. Different studies mentioned Motijheel, Karwan Bazar, Gulshan–Banani, Mohakhali, and Mirpur as the city cores. The objectives of this study are to delimit the functional area of these cores by kernel density analysis on the basis of land-use concentration and compare the characteristics on the basis of space use, structure height, accessibility, and space rent. An updated GIS database of year 2016 has been used for this study. Kernel density and space index has been used in delimitating and determining the boundaries. Comparison of these cores has brought out their characteristics. These characteristics have showed that each of the cores has their own distinctive natures and properties. Therefore, these cores cannot be administered in a unified way. Considering this, the cores have been delimitated using observation on the basis of their characteristics. Development pattern of these areas needs to be monitored according to the present spatial condition of the city.
Nusrat Sharmin, Afsana Haque, Md. Monirul Islam
Generating Alternative Land-use Allocation for Mixed Use Areas: Multi-Objective Optimization Approach
Wiley-Blackwell, Geographical Analysis , 2018
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
Current research is carried out with an intention to present an optimization approach for the urban land-use allocation problem by generating Pareto optimum solutions considering two objectives—maximizing compatibility among adjacent space uses of a study area without compromising the area’s total land price and maximizing the price of plot of each individual owner. Considering the non-linear characteristics of the objective functions, a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm approach called Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II) is applied to obtain Pareto optimal land-use allocation subject to different set of constraints. The objective functions are tested over a case study area of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The resulting NSGA-II model produces 24 Pareto optimal solutions of land-use allocation, allowing tradeoff between maximizing compatibility and land price from one solution to other. This research also expresses the potential of the model to aid the policymakers and city planners of development authorities by providing alternative land-use plans, and thereby predicting the consequences of any plan before practical application.
T Tarannum, Nawshin Tabassum, TA Majumder, AM Riyadh, Ishrat Islam, Afsana Haque, N Sharmeen
A Temporal Study on Hatirjheel- Begunbari Project Area from Spatial and Socio-Economic Prospects.
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, BUET, Nagar Shoilee, 2017
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
Afsana Haque, Sarwar Jahan
Regional Impact of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh: A Multi-Sector Analysis
Springer, International Journal of Disaster Risk Science volume , 2016
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
This research investigates the impact of cyclone Sidr on six regional economic systems of Bangladesh. The study uses secondary data on direct damages and corresponding changes in consumer spending and public/private investment expenditure. It employs input–output modeling and simulates the changes in national and regional output, income, and employment due to cyclone Sidr. Our findings indicate that coastal regions of Bangladesh—Barisal, Chittagong, and Khulna—are more vulnerable to cyclone disaster than are other parts of the country. The cyclone-induced loss of output is highest for Chittagong Division and income and employment losses are greatest in Barisal Division. The most affected sectors are housing services, agriculture, construction, and industrial activities. But sectoral losses vary widely across the regions. This research also finds that the present state of consumer spending and investment expenditure is not great enough to handle cyclone-induced output, income, and employment losses. It argues that investment decisions must consider regional patterns of output, income, and employment losses in different economic sectors to ensure cyclone-resilient development in Bangladesh.
Afsana Haque, Sarwar Jahan
Rice Yield, Submergence and Climate Change: Evidence from Coastal Barisal, Bangladesh
SAGE, Asia-Pacific Journal of Rural Development, 2015
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
In this paper, we investigate the effects of submergence due to heavy rainfall and river over-flow on rice production in the coastal Barisal region of Bangladesh. Our study uses plot level data to compare rice yields of cultivars in high and low submergence prone areas and to analyze variation in yield when high-yielding varieties (HYVs) versus local eeds are used. Results suggest that rice yields are, on average, some 10% lower in ‘high submergence areas' relative to ‘low submergence areas'. Both depth of submergence and duration have a negative effect on yield, with local varieties of rice seemingly better adapted to submergence. The widely grown Aman variety of rice faced an average of nine days of submergence in 2010, with 31% plots under 1-3 meters of water for 3-7 days. We forecast that an additional 13,564 hectares or 61% of total cropped Aman area in Barisal is likely to be inundated for 3-7 days in 2050 due to sea level rise and increased storm surge events. Correspondingly, given current levels of technology, we can expect a production loss of 10,856 tons of Aman in the future. The study recommends the introduction of submergence tolerant rice cultivars and low-cost water control technologies as adaptation options against climate change.
Afsana Haque, Sarwar Jahan
Impact of flood disasters in Bangladesh: A multi-sector regional analysis
Elsevier, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
Based on secondary data, this research investigates induced effects of flood disaster scenarios on national and regional output, income and employment through Input–Output model. It traces direct damages and corresponding change in consumer spending and public/private investment during Floods of 2004 and 2007, and estimates the interaction of various economic sectors for six regions of Bangladesh. The study finds that though direct flood damages devastate the economy of Bangladesh, the nation ultimately overcome the adverse impacts by changing consumer behavior and employing diversified investment options. The results indicate that Dhaka, Rajshahi and Sylhet are more vulnerable to flood disasters compared to coastal regions, i.e. Barisal, Chittagong and Khulna, of Bangladesh. Dhaka and Rajshahi faced major output loss, while Sylhet faced noteworthy income and employment loss due to flood disasters. The study finds Barisal as the least affected region. Loss of output and employment is maximum for agriculture sector for any region and most importantly such higher order effects are unrecoverable through current state of public/private investment. Present state of consumer spending and public/private investment, however, have helped industry and construction sector to recover from flood damages. The study recommends to explore alternate employment opportunities against output, income and employment loss of agriculture sector. It urges to consider regional variation while taking different measures to tackle flood disaster.
Afsana Haque, Yasushi Asami
Optimizing urban land use allocation for planners and real estate developers
Elsevier, Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 2014
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
In this paper, we use genetic algorithm based optimization models for urban land use allocation. We consider a multi-objective function for the planners, which simultaneously maximizes land prices and reduces incompatibility among adjacent land uses for an area. Land price of each and every plot of real estate developer is also optimized in response to the rules set by city development authorities. The differences in opinions of these two stakeholders are highlighted for a case study area of Bangladesh. The ultimate goal is to look for a computationally easy and efficient tool for generating and evaluating feasible land use plans to facilitate the allocation decision.
Shaila Jamal, Subrina Rahman, Sonia Rahman, Afsana Haque
Visitors’ Opinion and Preference about Ahsan Manzil, Old Dhaka: An Exploratory Study
BIP, Journal of Bangladesh Institute of Planners , 2012
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
Ahsan Manzil, situated on the left bank of the river Buriganga, is one of the most significant heritage sites of Bangladesh. This site is one of the major sources of recreation for the inhabitants of Dhaka, particularly for the dwellers of the congested Old Dhaka. But the conservation of this invaluable heritage site and its management have always failed to receive proper attention of the concerned authorities. The current research mainly focuses on visitors' characteristics and preferences for Ahsan Manzil and people's willingness to pay for the attributes offered by this place. Selected socio-economic variables concerned with the tourists are tested for association with the frequency of visit using chi-square analysis. The priority attributes for visitors in choosing the Ahsan Manzil are analyzed using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Then some policy suggestions have been made in the study.
Afsana Haque, Yasushi Asami
Optimizing Urban Land-Use Allocation: Case Study of Dhanmondi Residential Area, Dhaka, Bangladesh
SAGE, Environment and Planning B, Planning and Design , 2011
Publication Type: Journal Article
, Publication Link
Land-use allocation is a multiobjective optimization problem as it involves multiple stakeholders with conflicting goals and objectives. In this paper we optimize both land price and incompatibility among adjacent land uses of an area and try to solve the problem with a widely used heuristic approach called the genetic algorithm. The goal is to look for an effective, computationally easy, and efficient tool for land-use planners to use in generating and evaluating feasible land-use plans to facilitate the decision-making process. The model is demonstrated through a case study of the capital city of Bangladesh.
Afsana Haque, Sarwar Jahan
An Analysis of Bangladesh’s Regional Economic Structure through Input-Output Model
N/A, International Symposium on Urban Planning, NTUT, Taipei, Taiwan, 2006
Publication Type: Conference Paper
, Publication Link
S Rashid, Afsana Haque, Md. Musleh Uddin Hasan, AKM Riazuddin, F Ferdous
Gender Inequality in Rural Built Environment: The Impact of Compact Township
N/A, International Symposium ‘Gender and Built Environment’, Ahmedabad Management Association, Ahmedabad, India, 2002
Publication Type: Conference Paper
, Publication Link