Bangladesh’s cities are growing not only in size, but in complexity. Over the past two decades, apartment living has become the dominant form of urban housing, especially in Dhaka. Thousands of multi-storeyed buildings now accommodate millions of people, shaping how urban residents live every day. Yet while the physical transformation of cities has been rapid, the systems that govern this new way of living have not kept pace.
This gap is becoming increasingly visible – in service delivery, safety, financial management, and even in how buildings respond to new challenges like energy use. At the centre of this issue lies a simple question: who governs Bangladesh’s apartment economy?
In practice, most buildings are managed by owners’ associations. These groups take care of common spaces, manage staff, collect service charges, and address resident concerns. However, in most cases, they operate informally and are not established under a clear legal framework. As a result, the rules they set are often difficult to enforce, especially when disputes arise. At the same time, many apartment owners are concerned that formal regulation could bring additional costs and bureaucratic complications. This creates a difficult balance between the need for structure and the fear of over-regulation. As a result, thousands of apartment buildings operate in isolation, each following its own practices, often without clear standards or accountability. This fragmentation has real consequences.
Maintenance quality varies widely from building to building. Financial management is often unclear, as there are no standard systems for accounting or reporting. Safety preparedness, including fire response, remains weak in many cases. And despite representing a large and growing urban population, apartment communities have no collective platform to raise concerns or engage with policymakers. Taking together, these issues point to a clear institutional gap. Bangladesh’s urban growth has created a new layer of economic and social activity, the apartment economy, but the institutions needed to support it have yet to develop.
One practical way forward is to establish a self-regulated Federation of Apartment Owners’ Associations. This would not replace individual associations but bring them together under a common platform. Such a federation could help set basic standards for maintenance, staffing, financial management, and safety. It could also serve as a space for sharing experiences, resolving disputes, and improving overall practices. Most importantly, it could give apartment communities a collective voice in discussions with government agencies and service providers. It could also provide a form of recognition for associations, helping them manage funds more transparently and access basic financial services without facing complex legal hurdles. The benefits of such coordination could go beyond governance.
Apartment buildings, for example, have significant untapped potential for rooftop solar power. A federation could help coordinate investment, standardise approaches, and engage with utilities to make such systems more practical. In a time of energy uncertainty, this could become an important part of urban resilience. Similarly, there is an opportunity to improve how apartment services are delivered. Most buildings today rely on caretakers and guards who have limited technical skills. As a result, residents depend heavily on external technicians for even basic repairs. A more coordinated system could support the training and deployment of multi-skilled workers who can handle plumbing, electrical work, air-conditioning maintenance, and basic safety tasks within the building. This is where a broader workforce strategy becomes important.
A practical roadmap would link three key elements: trained manpower, relevant technical skills, and organised demand from apartment communities. Training institutions such as Polytechnics and Technical Training Centres could offer short, practical courses tailored to apartment services. These could include plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC maintenance, generator operation, fire safety, and basic building management. At the same time, disciplined manpower – particularly from organisations such as the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party – could be equipped with these skills. Combining discipline, physical fitness, and technical training would create a reliable and job-ready workforce. A federation of apartment associations could then act as the bridge; connecting trained workers with real demand, supporting recruitment, and ensuring continuous engagement. This would create a clear pathway from training to employment.
Technology can further strengthen this system. A federation-led, app-based platform could allow apartment associations to access verified, trained workers for security, maintenance, and emergency services. In a context where residents are cautious about allowing unknown individuals into their buildings, such a system would build trust. It would also improve transparency, standardise pricing, and reduce dependence on informal service networks.
A rotational work model could also be introduced, allowing workers to perform multiple roles – security, maintenance, and emergency response – reducing fatigue and improving efficiency. However, the success of this approach depends on coordination. Without a clear link between training institutions, organised apartment communities, and deploying agencies, skill development efforts are unlikely to deliver real impact.
International experience shows that such coordination is possible. In many countries, apartment or condominium associations are part of structured networks that help ensure standards, accountability, and effective service delivery. Bangladesh now faces a similar need.
The rapid growth of apartment living has created a new group of urban stakeholders, residents and their associations, whose role in the economy is significant and growing. Yet without an institutional framework to organise and support them, much of this potential remains untapped. The challenge is not just to build more apartments, but to build systems that make them work better.
Creating a federation of apartment associations – linked with training systems, workforce development, and digital platforms – could be a practical step in that direction. If done well, this approach could improve everyday services, create skilled jobs, strengthen safety, and support new areas like rooftop solar panels. More importantly, it could help turn a fragmented system into an organised and efficient one.
The apartment economy is no longer just a collection of buildings. It is becoming an important part of Bangladesh’s urban system. The real question is whether the institutions needed to support it will evolve in time.
The writer is a Maritime, Logistics and Supply Chain Policy Analyst | Adjunct Faculty, Bangladesh Maritime University
