The “Poverty Map of Bangladesh 2022”, published by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Thursday, reveals stark economic disparities across the country, with Paltan in Dhaka emerging as one of the wealthiest areas, where only 1 percent of residents live below the poverty line. In contrast, Dasar in Madaripur has been identified as the poorest area in the Dhaka division, with a staggering 63.2 percent of the population living in poverty.
This report highlights the significant gap between affluent and impoverished regions, shedding light on ongoing challenges in the country's fight against poverty.
The report indicates that Paltan, located in the heart of Dhaka, is home to the wealthiest individuals in the country, with only 1 percent of the population living below the poverty line. In contrast, the poorest residents reside in Kamrangirchar, where 19.1 percent of the population lives in poverty.
Other notable areas in Dhaka include Adabar (9.8 percent), Badda (7.4 percent), Banani (11.3 percent), Dhanmondi (1.5 percent), Gulshan (3.2 percent), Mirpur (12.9 percent), Mohammadpur (4.6 percent), and Rampura (6.3 percent) among others.
The district of Dhaka itself has an overall poverty rate of 19.6 percent, while the national poverty rate stands at 19.2 percent. Rural areas experience a higher poverty rate at 20.3 percent, while urban poverty is at 16.5 percent.
On a regional scale, the report reveals that the Barisal division has the highest poverty rate in the country at 26.6 percent, while Chattogram has the lowest at 15.2 percent. The district of Madaripur has the highest poverty rate, with 54.4 percent of its population living below the poverty line, while Noakhali is the wealthiest district with a poverty rate of just 6.1 percent.
In terms of individual upazilas, Madaripur’s Dasar is the poorest, with an alarming 63.2 percent of the population living in poverty.
The report highlights the continued economic challenges faced by many in Bangladesh, as well as the stark contrasts between wealthy and impoverished areas in the capital and throughout the country.
Bd-pratidin English/Fariha Nowshin Chinika
