The role of NGOs in public and private land development: The case of Dhaka city

•The role of NGOs in public and private land development in Dhaka city.•The neo-liberal policy is a platform that joins the public and private and NGOs.•The public and private sectors, and NGOs - all have their private interests.•A critical appraisal of the role of NGOs is required.

Through a series of case studies, this paper discusses the three stakeholders in land development for housing in Dhaka city: the public and private sectors, and NGOs. In a scenario in which urban planning merely serves to the fulfil formal requirements and benefit certain groups, in which the public sector is an accomplice to the private sector, and where NGOs have their own private interests; urban planning in the public interest is interlocked with private interests. NGOs are important tertiary stakeholders in planning and service provision. While they vary in their types and objectives, environment NGOs in particular often find themselves in an antagonistic position concerning public and private land development. However, the interventions to the public and private sectors placed by the NGOs can provide a platform for future negotiation and participation in policy formulation.