Rapid urbanization in South Asian cities has triggered significant changes in land use and land cover (LULC), degrading natural biophysical components and intensifying urban heat islands (UHIs). This study investigated the impact of LULC changes on land surface temperature (LST) and the role of biophysical indicators in enhancing urban resilience to thermal extremes. We used Landsat satellite imageries from 1993 to 2023, conducted a comprehensive analysis of LULC changes, and estimated LST variations at 6-year intervals in the Dhaka, Gazipur, and Narayanganj districts in Bangladesh. Afterward, we performed statistical analysis upon employing correlation, regression, and principal component analysis (PCA) techniques to summarize information. The results reveal that 339.13 km² worth of urban expansion has occurred in last 30 years, with an average annual growth rate of 3.5%, accompanied by a substantial reduction in water bodies (−139.17 km²) and vegetation cover. Consequently, summer temperatures exceeded approximately 36.52 °C in dense urban areas. Also, the results highlighted the strong influence of built-up areas (BSI and SAVI) on LST, while vegetation (NDVI) and water indices (NDWI) exhibited a negative association. The findings emphasize the urgency of integrating green infrastructure and deploying sustainable urban planning policies to mitigate the potential adverse impacts of scattered urbanization in the face of climate change.

Urban livability is becoming an increasingly significant concept in the field of urban planning and design, especially in rapidly urbanizing mid-sized cities of the Global South, where unplanned growth raises concerns about the living condition of city dwellers. With a focus on Khulna City, Bangladesh, this study aims to improve the understanding of how subjective perceptions and objective assessments of urban livability can coexist and foster the effective planning and design of urban environments, in line with broader planning principles. By integrating local community input with expert evaluations and socio-technical analysis at the fine geographic granularity of urban districts, this study reveals a strong alignment between people’s lived experiences and empirical geographic data, but also significant discrepancies. It highlights the importance of inclusive urban planning that considers both human experiences and environmental factors, stressing the need for flexible planning tools that reflect the unique social and cultural contexts of mid-sized cities in addition to objective assessments. The findings underscore the importance of comprehending the factors that influence urban livability for promoting sustainable urban growth and adopting practical land-use plans. Moreover, this study offers valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers in designing inclusive, accessible, and environmentally sustainable cities, tailored to the socio-economic realities of fast-growing urban areas.

Bangladesh is a developing country such a huge population, most of whom reside in rural areas. All around the country, Union Digital Centers (UDCs) have been established to offer public and private e-services to all inhabitants. It seems appropriate to do study on assessing the performance of e-service delivery after a number of years have passed since the founding of the UDCs. The study area has been determined to be the Batiaghata union and Jalma union under the Batiaghata Upazilla. This study tried to evaluate the performance of e-service delivery of UDCs and compare the performance of e-services of Jalma union and Batiaghata union of Batiaghata Upazilla. Three major components such as service functionality, availability and, quality and efficiency have been considered in this study. To evaluate the performance of delivery of electronic services of these centers, the Composite Indexing Method was used. The results showed that e-services of both unions are virtually as effective and of moderate quality. There was a striking contrast between the two unions when the availability aspect of e-service delivery was taken into account (about 48.96% in Jalma UDC and 38.70% in Batiaghata UDC). On the other hand, both unions’ scores for service functionality were the lowest amount in practical. Overall, e-service functions of Jalma Union Digital Center were comparatively better than those of Batiaghata Union Digital Center which is 47.03% and 37.5% respectively. The study also suggested that the UDCs of two unions’ current e-service delivery scenario strongly need to future advancement in the provision of creative services based on the requirement for upgradeable technological knowledge in the most satisfactory manners.

Urban livability is becoming an increasingly significant concept in the field of urban planning and design, especially in rapidly urbanizing mid-sized cities of the Global South, where the unplanned growth raises concerns about living condition of city dwellers. This study aims to improve the understanding of how subjective perceptions and objective assessments of urban livability can coexist and foster effective planning and design of urban environments, in line with broader planning principles. With a focus on Khulna City, Bangladesh, the study examines the geographical dynamics of urban livability and assesses how well subjective judgments and empirical geographic evaluations coincide. By integrating local community input with expert evaluations and socio-technical analysis at the fine geographic granularity of urban districts, the study reveals a strong alignment between people’s lived experiences and empirical geographic data, but also significant discrepancies. The findings highlight the importance of inclusive urban planning that considers both human experiences and environmental factors, stressing the need for flexible planning tools that reflect the unique social and cultural contexts of mid-sized cities in addition to objective assessments. By expanding the understanding of livability beyond major cities, this research addresses a critical gap in urban studies, especially advocating for socially inclusive urban growth models like the 15-minute city concept, which can better serve the Global South’s unique challenges in rapidly urbanizing nations with controlled expansion. The findings underscore the importance to comprehend the factors that influence urban livability for promoting sustainable urban growth and adopting practical land-use plans. Moreover, this study offers valuable guidance for developing land-use strategies that enhance accessibility, equity, and sustainability in fast-growing urban areas.