The Spatial Efficiency of Administrative Units in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

The most important administrative units in Bangladesh are districts, which arc 19 in number. The principal objectives of this research can be summarized as the evaluation of the districts' shapes, the measurement of the locational efficiency of district centres and the development of a plan for optimal location of district boundaries. The shape index formulated by Haggett is employed to assess the shape and compactness of districts. None of the districts demonstrated any near-circular or even a hexagonal form. The elongation of the district shapes is the result of the general physic features, especially the river network. The locational efficiency of district centres is investigated in terms of the centrality of the centres and their deviations from the centres of gravity. The locations demonstrated a generally varied pattern which can be attributed to the land transport and river networks, and the elongated nature of a large number of districts. The relocation of district centres in order to obtain centrality is not recommended because of infrastuctural problems and huge expenses involved in establishing new administrative seats. Finally, the most feasible solution to the problem of optimizing spatial efficiency lies in an attempt to redefine district boundaries on the basis of the principle that each district would serve an approximately equal number of customers. It requires certain major redefinition of district boundaries, but does not involve any relocation of district centres. This approach is deemed to be the most satisfactory one in trying to optimize spatial efficiency of administrative units in Bangladesh.