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This research examines the intricate morphological dynamics that define the relationship between the port and urban core of Narayanganj, a distinguished inland port in Bangladesh with a storied history spanning over two centuries. Known as the "Dundee of the East," Narayanganj played a pivotal role in the transportation of abundant agricultural resources to Calcutta and England, underscoring its historical significance as a critical gateway. The primary objective of this study is to comprehensively examine and analyze the nuanced interplay between the port and urban core of Narayanganj, drawing comparisons with selected tropical inland port cities such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, and Yangon.
To achieve this goal, the research employs a multifaceted approach, combining archival investigation and syntactic analysis to unveil the morphological transformations within Narayanganj. The meticulous examination of historical records, reports, and maps serves to determine the original location of the city core and port, forming the foundational basis for subsequent analyses. A detailed depth map analysis is conducted specifically for Narayanganj, while syntactic analysis is extended to the highway street grids (foreground network) of other sample cities. The analysis is bifurcated into two distinct categories: one that excludes the river and another that considers the river as a street, thereby elucidating the river's impact within the street grid for inland port cities. A comprehensive assessment of land cover and land use information across the selected cities is performed using a star diagram. The results of the morphological analysis are systematically compared through a matrix, providing a nuanced understanding and evaluation of cities in terms of their morphological attributes.
A significant contribution of this study lies in establishing a critical range for the geometric distance of 6 to 9 km between the core and port, a revelation with important implications for future physical planning for flourishing inland port cities. The detailed depth map analysis of Narayanganj unveils the global integration core situated in the Chittagong Road bus station area, corroborated by analogous results from foreground network analysis. In the broader context of overall integration, two cores are identified, with discernible northward growth apparent from chronological syntactic analysis. The research places a particular emphasis on the city core-river relationship, pinpointing the Chittagong Road bus stand area as the global integration core, where the river significantly influences the city's connectivity network. Comparative analysis with other selected cases underscores the importance of core-port proximity for Narayanganj. The study identifies Narayanganj's advantageous geometric distance as holding the potential to evolve into a thriving inland port city. This realization prompts a call for strategic enhancements to the core-port relationship through the development of road-based connectivity networks around port-related facilities.
Leveraging Narayanganj's unique canal system emerges as a strategic proposition for integrated core-port relationships, especially perpendicular to the river. The findings of this study i.e. core-port conflict, northward growth, spongy character of the city and above all the glory of an inland port city extend beyond a mere examination of morphological characteristics; they hold profound implications for understanding the growth dynamics Narayanganj. Urban planners, architects, development partners, government officials, and academics stand to gain valuable insights from the nuanced findings of this research, which provide a solid foundation for informed decision-making and future endeavors in urban development and planning of inland port cities in a tropical context. |
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