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The slum-dwellers and squatter community exist in most cities of Bangladesh, more prominently in the capital city of Dhaka. Despite their contributions to the economy and welfare of the city, there is a very negative image about them in the minds of the city dwellers generally and the authorities in particular that see the existence of slums more as a nuisance than as a human problem to be dealt with in a humane manner. As a result, hardly any attention has given to their basic human needs. They live under a constant threat of eviction and in most inhuman living conditions, without water, power, gas and other essential facilities. Most often they are evicted from slums on government land without prior notice or very short notices, making them destitute over and over again. Such a situation could be avoided if a model plan for resettlement of the urban poor, particularly the slum-dwellers, could be developed on the basis of consensus amongst the policy makers, professionals, urban planners, concerned agencies and the slum dwellers themselves. Fortunately efforts have been made in recent times by the concerned members of the civil society to develop a model plan for resettlement of the slum dwellers for presentation to the authorities. The researcher have assessed the perception of the slum dwellers in Dhaka city about their housing needs and their priorities as well as sought their views on the architectural design and other features envisaged in the model plan. Major findings of the study are : (i) As most of the slum dwellers living in the slums do not have any valid holding number issued by the City Corporation hence they have no access to the privileges (pure drinking water, hygienic sanitary system, supply of gas and electricity, educational and health services); (ii) most of the female respondents are not aware about their housing rights as well as other rights; (iii) many of the slum dwellers have either been evicted or under the threat of eviction. Eventually they have taken some decisions about what to do when the process of eviction will be operative. The study has given a clear projection of the thoughts of the slum dwellers and their thoughts were more than favourable to the rehabilitation project planned for them; (iv) the slum dwellers told that they are ready to pay a minimum amount of Tk. 300/- as monthly instalment if anyone solve their problem regarding electricity, gas and drinking water. But some people, especially those involved in small business can pay Tk. 850.00 to 900.00 per month for these services; (v) the slum dwellers are more eager to pay for their home. In fact, these slum dwellers are involved with NGOs operative in their locality for a long time. They are well served by these NGOs and they trust them NGOs very much. They believe that it is very much possible for the NGOs to plan and launch a rehabilitation programme for them. They are ready to pay a monthly instalment of Tk. 700.00 if they are allotted safe and better dwelling places. Those who are involved with small trades and savings with the NGOs shown their readiness to Tk. 1900.00 as monthly instalment and ready to pay a down payment of Tk. 5000-24000 (except the rickshaw pullers and daily labourers).
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