Urban poverty is rising in Bangladesh, but towns and cities account for only one-fifth of total beneficiaries of government social protection schemes, a new study has found.

Nearly half of impoverished households nationwide receive no social protection benefits. At the same time, in urban areas, the exclusion rate is almost 64% — far higher than the national average, according to a paper presented by Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, chairman of Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID).

The findings were shared at the National Social Protection Conference, held in Dhaka on Tuesday, organized by the Cabinet Division and the General Economics Division, with support from Australian Aid and the UNDP.

Razzaque said that most schemes remain heavily rural-focused, despite rapid urbanization. Education stipends, allowances for widows, persons with disabilities, and elderly citizens overwhelmingly go to rural households. Exceptions include pensions for retired government employees and allowances for freedom fighters, where urban households have greater coverage, though rural recipients remain significant.

“Historically, social safety nets were designed to reduce rural poverty, hunger, and disaster vulnerability,” Razzaque said. “But with rising joblessness, housing insecurity, and living costs in cities, the lack of urban-focused safety nets is a growing policy gap.”

Out of around 23 programmes designed for the urban poor, only 4% of the total social protection budget was allocated last fiscal year, compared with 27% for 50 rural-only schemes.

Officials at the event said plans are underway to expand safety net coverage for the urban poor.