The probable impacts of climate change on poverty - UNDP

<strong>of</strong> food insecurity. <strong>The</strong> United Nations World Food
Programme has reported that the poorest upazilas can be
found in the north-west, the coastal belt, Mymensingh,
Netrakona, Bangdarban and Rangamati districts. In terms <strong>of</strong>
absolute numbers, districts with more than one million
people living in extreme poverty include Sirajganj, Naogaon,
Bogra, Mymensingh and Chittagong (GOB and FAO, 2004).
Given the size <strong>of</strong> population and poverty incidence by
administrative divisions, it shows that the largest number <strong>of</strong>
poor lives in Rajshahi followed by Dhaka, Chittagong,
Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet districts. <strong>The</strong> following Table
provides information about density <strong>of</strong> the poor by divisions.
Recent analysis by General Economic Division revealed that
the proportion <strong>of</strong> poor is higher compared to its proportion
<strong>of</strong> population in the lagging divisions. On the other hand,
proportion <strong>of</strong> poor is lower compared to its proportion <strong>of</strong>
population in the forward divisions. In 2005, the proportion
<strong>of</strong> population in Khulna division was 11.68% and the
proportion <strong>of</strong> poor was 13.3 %. <strong>The</strong> proportion <strong>of</strong> population
in Barisal division was 6.42% whereas the proportion <strong>of</strong> poor
was 8.3%. <strong>The</strong> proportion <strong>of</strong> population was 24.08% in
Rajshahi division and the proportion <strong>of</strong> poor was 30.8%. In
Dhaka division the proportion <strong>of</strong> population was 32.23%
and the proportion <strong>of</strong> poor was 25.8%. <strong>The</strong> proportion <strong>of</strong> population in Chittagong division was 19.25% while
the proportion <strong>of</strong> poor was 5.4%. This distribution holds true for all districts as well.
Table 7.2: Number and Density <strong>of</strong> Poor people by Region 2005
Re gion
Square
Km
Area Population Poor
% Crore %
<strong>The</strong> Probable Impacts <strong>of</strong> Climate Change on Poverty and Economic Growth and
the Options <strong>of</strong> Coping with adverse Effect <strong>of</strong> Climate Change in Bangladesh
Poverty
Incidence%
Population
density/Sq. km
Crore % Poor All
Barisal 13297 9.01 0.89 6.42 52.0 0.46 8.3 346 669
Chittagong 33771 22.88 2.67 19.25 34.0 0.91 16.4 270 790
Dhaka 31120 21.09 4.47 32.23 32.0 1.43 25.8 460 143 6
Khulna 22273 15.09 1.62 11.68 45.7 0.74 13.3 332 727
Rajsh ahi 34514 23.39 3.34 24.08 51.2 1.71 30.8 495 967
Sylhet 12596 8.54 0.88 6.34 33.8 0.30 5.4 238 699
Bangladesh 417571 100 13.87 100 40.0 5.55 100 376 940
Source: BBS
7.2 Intensity and Severity <strong>of</strong> Poverty
Like the poverty incidence the intensity <strong>of</strong> poverty, measured by the poverty gap, is much higher in Barisal,
Rajshahi and the Khulna division. Similar is the case with the severity <strong>of</strong> poverty, as measured by this squared
poverty gap. However, one observation can be made with respect to incidence, intensity and severity <strong>of</strong> poverty
across Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. Although, incidence <strong>of</strong> poverty in Chittagong is higher than that <strong>of</strong> Dhaka
and Sylhet, its intensity and severity are lower than those <strong>of</strong> the other two divisions respectively. It implies that
poor people in Chittagong are better <strong>of</strong>f than their counter parts in Sylhet and Dhaka.
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