Poverty in some districts in the country worsened from 2022 to 2024, according to a latest survey conducted by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS).
The survey reveals that nearly 23.11 per cent of households in the select districts live below the upper poverty line. The rate stands at 24.67 per cent in rural areas, while it is 20.43 per cent in urban areas. The findings were presented at a seminar at the BIDS auditorium in Dhaka on Monday.
Takahiro Utsumi, Head of Research, Assessment & Monitoring (RAM) and Lead Food Security Analyst at the World Food Programme, was present as the special guest, while Professor Dr. A.K. Enamul Haque, Director General of BIDS, chaired the event. The survey data was collected from October 8, 2024 to November 7, 2024.
Dr Muhammad Yunus, Research Director of BIDS, presented the findings of the survey styled Small Area Estimates of Poverty 2022: Trends and Disparities in Selected Districts, 2024.
The BBS, in collaboration with the World Bank and the World Food Programme, developed a poverty map at the district and upazila levels using data from the 2022 Population Census and the 2022 Household Income Expenditure Survey (HIES) based on SAE methodology.
In the context of Bangladesh, SAE refers to Small Area Estimation (SAE) techniques used to estimate poverty, food insecurity, and other indicators at the district or upazila level, by combining data from household surveys with census data and other auxiliary information.
The survey employed purposive sampling, selecting districts based on climate change vulnerability, such as hilly, coastal, riverbank erosion, and haor areas, alongside Dhaka. The chosen districts include Bandarban, Dhaka, Khulna, Rangpur, and Sylhet.
Rural areas report higher dissatisfaction (72.96 per cent) about life than urban areas (64.49 per cent). The least satisfied districts are Bandarban (7.84 per cent) and Sylhet (18.50 per cent), calling for urgent policy interventions.
The survey said the help from friends and relatives and local government agencies increased slightly from 40.61 percent in 2022 to 41.69 percent in 2024 while changing food habits marginally increased from 34.05 percent in 2022 to 35.25 percent in 2024.
In contrast, spending from savings, loans, and selling assets slightly decreased from 90.42 percent in 2022 to 88.03 percent in 2024, it said.
The survey reveals that 46.3 per cent of the households experienced food insecurity at a moderate level in 2024 compared with 38.08 percent in 2022.
Also, 5.36 per cent of the households experienced severe food insecurity in 2024 compared with 4.29 per cent in 2022.
The survey also suggested the need for targeted interventions, particularly in high-poverty and high-dissatisfaction regions, to improve infrastructure, economic opportunities, and social services.
Rural dissatisfaction should be addressed through better access to education, healthcare, and employment, it said, adding that satisfaction in urban areas should be sustained while addressing existing dissatisfaction pockets.
Findings indicate a worsening poverty perception in Bandarban from 2022 to 2024, reflecting economic distress. The disparity between statistical estimates and local perceptions suggests deteriorating economic conditions.
The perception of poverty in Dhaka district has worsened significantly from 2022 to 2024. In Dhaka, poverty rose from 8.6 percent in 2022 to 19.3 percent in 2024. The perception survey shows increasing poverty concerns, particularly in Savar and Keraniganj.
In Khulna, poverty severity has intensified, particularly in Dacope and Koyra, which are now critical hotspots. Upazilas like Phultala and Terokhada, once categorized as low-poverty zones, now face moderate poverty levels, highlighting emerging socio-economic challenges.
Rangpur has also seen rising poverty, with Gangachara identified as the most affected upazila. Other upazilas such as Pirgachha, Rangpur Sadar, and Mithapukur are witnessing worsening socio-economic conditions. The impact of climate change, especially riverbank erosion, has exacerbated poverty.
In Sylhet, the 2024 perception survey shows Zakiganj now falls into the very high poverty category, while all other upazilas have shifted to moderate poverty.
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