Govt plans roadmap for universal social security: Planning adviser
All must also commit to taking it as an economic and political goal from now on, he says
Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud said the interim government has taken the initiative to develop a roadmap for universal social security to ensure equal opportunities for all, which the future elected government will implement.
"Bangladesh is no longer very poor and is moving toward becoming an upper-middle-income country. There is no excuse for not providing universal social security," he said.
He made the statement as the chief guest at the opening of the three-day "National Conference on Social Protection 2025", organised by the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka today (1 September), chaired by Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid.
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Wahiduddin Mahmud stressed that extreme poverty should not exist in a just society. "Over the past 15 years, income inequality has increased due to chronic capitalisation and political rent-seeking. Now we must ensure equal benefits for all," he said.
He added that people become poor due to low income, lack of opportunities, or illness, and that many existing social programmes fail because of poor coordination, overlapping projects, high costs, and corruption.
He highlighted errors in beneficiary identification, noting that Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics surveys show 50% of recipients are ineligible, termed "phantom or political beneficiaries." He stressed the need for good local governance, effective screening systems, and a nationally coordinated list monitored locally to identify real beneficiaries.
"While incomes may differ, opportunities must be equal. Health and education benefits exist but are insufficient without a minimum standard of living," Wahiduddin Mahmud said.
The adviser also pointed out new poverty pockets in Netrokona, Sunamganj, Satkhira, and Patuakhali and advocated combining regional and family-based approaches for identifying beneficiaries.
Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam stressed identifying vulnerable groups and working directly with them. "We need a coordinated database to strengthen social protection programmes," he said.
Monzur Hossain, member of the General Economics Division of the Planning Commission, noted that GDP grew nearly 6.5% over the past decade, but employment grew only 2%, reflecting largely jobless growth.
He said, "The current social protection budget is insufficient. Coverage should be expanded through bonds and insurance, and the government should focus on increasing revenue."
Addressing the 'missing middle'
Md Khaled Hasan, additional secretary of the Cabinet Division, highlighted families known as the "missing middle," who are neither eligible for TCB support nor social security programmes, yet struggle to cover household expenses.
Wahiduddin Mahmud illustrated the situation, saying, "Imagine a person standing in water up to their nose. Even a small wave can drown them."
Faruk E Azam added that many fall into poverty due to natural disasters and need special programmes. Existing initiatives like VGD, VGF, Kabikha, and Kabita do not cover everyone, including those not officially poor.
Social security budget analysis
A report presented at the event showed that the 2025–26 national budget allocates Tk1,16,731 crore for social security—14.78% of the total budget and 1.87% of GDP, nearly 3.27 times higher than the 2015–16 allocation of Tk35,975 crore. Despite this, benefits are not reaching all due to weak implementation, improper targeting, and rising inequality.
The government has reduced social security programs from 140 to 95 to improve coordination and efficiency. Initiatives like Government-to-Person digital payments and the Dynamic Single Registry have been introduced to deliver funds directly to beneficiaries.
Social security experts noted that allowance-based support alone is insufficient, particularly for women's empowerment, and recommended linking programs to employment, microcredit, skills development, and healthcare services. They also called for climate-resilient support programs for disaster-prone regions, coastal areas, and northern districts.
The poor are like bonsai
Khaled Hasan compared Bangladesh's poor to bonsai trees, saying that while the seeds are the same, bonsai cannot grow fully due to insufficient soil and trimmed branches.
"Many remain poor due to limited opportunities and inefficiencies in the social system, but with proper opportunities, they can rise above the poverty line," he said, citing a 2007 speech by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Public Administration Senior Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman added, "While bonsai can be beautiful, it represents a struggle that no one desires. People should be freed from such constraints."
Wahiduddin Mahmud concluded that in a just society, extreme poverty cannot exist, and fairness ensures no one remains like a bonsai.
