The city under discussion. Dhaka

Dacca, the capital of one of the poorest countries in the world, the administrative and economic centre of Bangladesh, is a densely populated metropolis with serious problems relating to the waters of the Ganges Delta, which is very changeable during monsoons. It has large state-run infrastructures and symbolic buildings, a legacy from the era when it was part of India and then, after Partition, part of Pakistan. Dhaka has recently experienced large-scale growth, with informal constructions that have made it one of the most populated urban areas in the world.

Bengali architect Marina Tabassum and journalist Igor G. Barbero discuss the challenges facing a city threatened by the congestion and pollution caused by its rapid expansion.

Photography: Masum-al-hasan