Bangladesh is a lower-middle-income country located in the South Asian region with a population of 160 million. The country is split into eight divisions and sixty-four districts to help with the administrative process. Like other developing countries, Bangladesh is also going through rapid urban growth over the last few decades. According to the Planning Commission report 2013, the level of urbanization in this country is increasing at an expeditious rate of 23.30 (2011), which was only 8.78 in the year 1974.
The increased migration of rural people to the urban areas has resulted in increased poverty in the urban areas. In fact, rapid urbanization has led to concentration of poverty in urban areas more than rural areas over time which has been coined as "urbanization of poverty". This is because the cities are overcrowded and are unable to create enough opportunities. There are not enough jobs and facilities for all. Many are under-employed while some are unemployed even in large cities. Cost of living in urban areas is also higher than rural areas—a substantial part of their income is spent on housing since the demand for housing is very high compared to supply in cities, particularly in large cities such as Dhaka and Chottogram.
First, the urban poor need support through a comprehensive social safety net program. Second, more investment is required in basic amenities such as healthcare, education, water and sanitation in the poor urban areas. Third, they should have access to finance so that the youth and the women can become entrepreneurs. Fourth, skills development, training, and access to technology will help the poor find better jobs. Fifth, better urban planning and investment are needed for improving the conditions of slums and housing of the poor. Finally, urban poverty can be tackled to a large extent by developing the rural economy which is already transforming. More investment in rural infrastructure and facilities will check migration from rural to urban areas and reduce pressure on the cities.
