Dhaka, Mar 25 (V7N) – A survey by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) has revealed a rise in poverty and food insecurity in the country.
The findings were presented at a seminar held at the BIDS headquarters on Monday.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) Household Income and Expenditure Survey in 2022, the poverty rate was 18.7%.
However, the latest BIDS survey shows an increase to 23.11%.
While BIDS noted that its survey is not intended for national-level comparative analysis, the findings indicate a clear upward trend in poverty.
Conducted with support from the World Food Programme (WFP), the survey collected data from 3,150 households across Dhaka, Bandarban, Khulna, Rangpur, and Sylhet.
The results show rising poverty in both urban and rural areas.
In Dhaka, the poverty rate increased from 8.6% in 2022 (BBS data) to 18.87% in 2024. In Khulna, it climbed from 10.2% to 22.67%, in Sylhet from 16% to 25.50%, and in Rangpur from 21% to 25.33%.
Food insecurity has also worsened, rising from 38.08% in 2022 to 46.3% in 2024.
BIDS Director General Dr AK Enamul Haque said that the survey is crucial for understanding the current situation and will support government policymakers in decision-making.
Research Director Mohammad Yunus attributed the rise in poverty to political instability, economic pressures from the Russia-Ukraine war, and inflation.
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