Dhaka slums in deep poverty trap

Nearly nine out of every 10 families living in Dhaka’s slums suffer from multidimensional poverty, facing severe deprivation in housing, water, sanitation, healthcare and education, according to a new survey.

More than half of the slum population also lives under the constant threat of eviction, leaving many families uncertain about their homes and access to basic services.

The findings highlight the scale of urban poverty in the capital, showing that deprivation goes well beyond low household income and is particularly acute in smaller settlements, where residents face greater economic hardship and poorer living conditions.

The findings were presented in the Bangladesh Poverty Watch Report 2025, jointly prepared by the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM) and the Centre for Inclusive Development Dialogue (CIDD).

The survey covered 210 families living in seven slums in Dhaka between September and December last year. The report was compiled using the survey findings, supplemented by focus group discussions and individual accounts of residents’ experiences.

The report was unveiled at an event at the BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, Dhaka, on Tuesday.

Zakir Ahmed Khan, chairman of the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), and Dr Mustafa K Mujeri, chairman of CIDD and executive director of InM, were among the speakers.

The survey found that poverty and deprivation were more severe in smaller slum settlements than in larger ones.

While 75 per cent of families in large slums were classified as poor, the proportion rose to 94.4 per cent in medium-sized settlements and 95 per cent in smaller ones.

Residents of smaller slums also face considerable economic and environmental disadvantages.

Their average monthly household income is Tk5,400 lower than that of families living in larger settlements.

Healthcare and sanitation conditions are particularly poor in these areas. Around 90 per cent of families in small slums lack access to services from qualified doctors, while 80 per cent do not have sanitary latrines.

Housing conditions are similarly inadequate. More than 80 per cent of families in smaller settlements live in single-room dwellings measuring between 60 and 120 square feet.

They spend between 25 and 40 per cent of their household income on rent, leaving limited resources for other essential needs.

Environmental risks further compound their hardship. The survey found that 78 per cent of large slums are located in low-lying areas, making flooding and waterlogging persistent problems for residents.

Across the surveyed settlements, average monthly household income stood at Tk16,900, against average expenditure of Tk13,600.

The report stressed that poverty in slum communities should not be viewed simply as a lack of income.

Rather, it involves overlapping forms of deprivation, including inadequate housing, unsafe water, poor sanitation, limited healthcare and education facilities, and insecurity of residence.

It also identified policy failures as a major factor behind the growth of slum settlements in the capital.

More than half of the slum population lives in constant fear of eviction, largely because residents lack secure land tenure.

This uncertainty discourages them from investing in stronger and more durable homes.

Evictions also disrupt access to water and electricity and weaken the support networks built among neighbours over time.

The report noted that, under High Court directives, evictions without prior rehabilitation are strictly illegal.

Instead of resorting to forced evictions, it recommended upgrading infrastructure within existing settlements, including roads, water supply, sanitation and waste management facilities.

It also called for greater support for community-led organisations, gradual recognition of land tenure rights, the provision of affordable rental housing and investment in infrastructure capable of withstanding floods.

The report further recommended strengthening the capacity of Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations to implement sustainable urban development plans, with particular attention to smaller and medium-sized slum settlements, where poverty and deprivation are more severe.

The findings suggest that addressing urban poverty requires more than income support, with secure housing, access to basic services and protection against arbitrary eviction forming essential parts of any sustainable solution.