Leading economists and policymakers have urged fundamental structural reforms within social security programs, advocating for the inclusion of the urban poor and a significant increase in budgetary allocations to combat the escalating income disparity across the nation. These critical recommendations emerged from a roundtable discussion titled ‘National Budget and Social Security Programs in Bridging Income Inequality,’ organized by the ‘Right to Food Bangladesh-RtF’ network at the National Press Club on June 26, 2025. The session was presided over by Mohsin Ali, General Secretary of RtF BD Network and Founder & Executive Director of WAVE Foundation.
Md. Saidur Rahman Khan, Director General of the Department of Social Services graced the event as the chief guest. Distinguished economist Dr. Mahbubul Mokaddem and Dr. Selim Raihan, Professor of Economics at Dhaka University and Executive Director of SANEM, attended as esteemed guests. The keynote paper was presented by Dr. S.M. Zulfiqar Ali, Research Director at BIDS. The discussion was moderated and welcomed by Kaniz Fatima, Coordinator of the Network and Deputy Director of WAVE.
In his address, Md. Saidur Rahman Khan stated, “We possess databases for the elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, Bede communities, and other marginalized groups, including approximately 3.6 million individuals with disabilities. Our operations are guided by the 2013 Social Security Policy. Previously, only Nagad, a mobile banking institution, was entrusted with disbursing various allowances. However, due to instances of corruption and public deception, we have relieved them of this responsibility through legal action initiated by the Anti-Corruption Commission. Currently, complaints regarding allowance disbursements have significantly decreased. We are actively working to prevent individuals from receiving allowances from multiple sources, ensuring single beneficiaries.”
Mohsin Ali, in his presidial remarks, emphasized, “It remains to be seen how the post-August 5 mass uprising government will ensure social security. While the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) formulated in 2015 was a commendable initiative, the beneficiary selection process for its programs remains ambiguous. Ensuring food rights is a primary objective of social security, a cause RtF BD actively champions.” He expressed optimism that “social security activities will continue to contribute to national development, prioritizing food rights and engaging the youth.”
Article presenter and participants in the discussion highlighted that the 2015 NSSS has yet to be effectively implemented. Instead, multiple programs with similar objectives are running concurrently, often contradicting each other and, in many cases, being politically influenced. The current budget allocates BDT 116,731 crore for social security, representing 1.87% of the GDP. However, excluding government employee pensions, agricultural subsidies, freedom fighter allowances, and textbook distribution, this allocation remains at BDT 57,457 crore, less than 1% of the GDP, which is deemed highly insufficient. Speakers highlighted the imperative to bring urban poor populations under the program’s umbrella and eliminate political influence in beneficiary selection to ensure the inclusion of the genuinely impoverished. They also asserted that transparent and impartial beneficiary selection methods, increasing allowance amounts to align with the poverty line, and establishing citizen oversight mechanisms are urgent necessities. They further noted that many programs within this initiative have become contradictory and ineffective, urging an immediate review to eliminate unnecessary and politically motivated schemes. The discussion was attended by professionals, youth representatives, teachers, journalists, and members of civil society.
