1% control 54% of country's wealth, says RAPID chair
According to the World Inequality Report 2026, the richest 1% of Bangladesh's population controls nearly a quarter of the country's total wealth
There had been little progress in narrowing wealth disparities in the country, and no effective steps were seen being taken to reduce it, said Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) Chairman Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque today (15 December).
"At present, 1% of the population holds 54% of the country's wealth," he said while presenting the keynote paper at a seminar in the capital's CIRDAP auditorium. The seminar, titled Immediate Socio-Economic Priorities Facing the Next Government, was organised by the research organisation RAPID.
But, he did not elaborate on the figures stated during the presentation.
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However, speaking to The Business Standard after the programme, Razzaque said the calculation was based on data from the 2022 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES).
"A detailed report prepared on this issue will be presented later, where more information will be shared," he said.
The claim comes as international estimates present a different picture of wealth concentration in Bangladesh.
According to the World Inequality Report 2026, published by the Paris-based World Inequality Lab, the richest 1% of Bangladesh's population controls nearly a quarter, or 24%, of the country's total wealth.
The report also found that the wealthiest 10% of the population holds about 58% of total national wealth.
