A systematic review on integration of sustainable development and spatial planning in the context of urban growth of Dhaka megacity

Finding a balance between economic growth and environmental protection is a significant challenge for contemporary cities. In the last 30 years, many large cities have started integrating sustainability concepts into planning processes to better manage land, resources, and urban activities. In contrast, Dhaka—the capital of Bangladesh with a population of approximately 24.65 million—has experienced rapid growth with a stronger emphasis on economic expansion than on environmental concerns. This has resulted in significant challenges in land use, housing, transportation, governance, and environmental health and management. As these challenges intensify, understanding how planning systems incorporate or fail to incorporate sustainability principles becomes increasingly critical. Despite this urgency, relatively few studies have explored the integration of spatial planning (SP) and sustainable development (SD) in Dhaka’s urban growth. The purpose of this research is to address this knowledge gap by systematically reviewing the existing literature to assess the extent of integration between sustainable development and spatial planning practices, identify key thematic areas and institutional constraints, and highlight limitations and opportunities for integrated urban planning. Using qualitative method, this study examined 92 sources of white literature and gray literature, categorized into six main themes and 21 subthemes that cover land use, housing, transportation, governance, and environmental management. The findings reveal that while many studies reference SD and SP together, their integration remains largely conceptual and fragmented, with no clearly articulated operational framework guiding planning practice in Dhaka. Moreover, this review identifies weaknesses in previous studies, highlights opportunities to better connect sustainability and planning and provide insights for policymakers and planners. Rather than proposing an implementable policy model, this review develops a conceptual synthesis that highlights strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improving SD–SP integration.