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Environmental activists on Friday called for forming a strong working committee, comprising all government agencies concerned, to make Dhaka city liveable.
They also suggested inclusion of urban planners, public health experts and environmentalists in the committee.
Poribesh Bachao Andolan (POBA) came with the call at a seminar titled 'Dhaka among the least liveable city: ways to salvation', held at its office in the city, according to a statement.
The seminar was held after Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released a global survey report, revealing the most liveable cities in the world. Dhaka ranked as the second worst city after war-torn Damascus in the list.
POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan and its secretary Wahed Rasel attended the seminar, among others. Joint general secretary of the organisation Dr Lelin Chowdhury presented a keynote paper.
Dr Lelin Chowdhury said Dhaka has been ranked in top four as the least liveable city for the last seven years.
He said nearly 0.2 million people live in per kilometre area of the capital city. Besides, almost 40 per cent of the country's total population living in urban areas are the residents of capital city.
The authorities concerned need to understand the city's condition in such perspective, he said mentioning several other points.
He also said the country is going through several dangers like climate change, which threatens to submerge many coastal areas within 30 years.
"A good number of people are likely to become homeless in coastal areas due to negative impacts of climate change," he said, adding that many of those people may try to settle in the capital.
Dhaka city is now facing many problems like unplanned urbanisation, poor traffic and road management, he observed.
The city lacks adequate number of playgrounds, parks and water bodies.
"The city is not only an unliveable one at present, but it is also now on the brink of havoc," he said.