Only 19.7% of eligible Indigenous people in Bangladesh are enrolled in major social safety net programmes, leaving four out of every five qualified beneficiaries excluded, according to a new study by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
The report, titled “Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in Social Safety Net Programmes: Governance Challenges and Ways Forward,” was released at a press conference at TIB’s Dhaka office on Tuesday.
TIB Research Fellow Razia Sultana presented the findings, joined by Professor Sumaiya Khair, Director (Research & Policy) Muhammad Badiuzzaman, and Director (Outreach & Communication) Towhidul Islam.
Majority of Eligible Indigenous Applicants Left Out
According to the study, access to social protection remains severely limited for Indigenous groups. In the old-age allowance programme, 52.1% of eligible Indigenous persons applied but only 21.2% were selected.
For the widow and abandoned women allowance, 33.3% applied and just 12% were approved. In disability allowance or subsidy, 57.5% applied and 31.6% were chosen.
Under the mother-and-child benefit scheme, 30.5% applied while 21.5% were selected. For the VWB card, applications stood at 25.1%, with only 12.4% making it to the beneficiary list.
Despite suffering higher poverty rates than the national average, Indigenous people are not prioritised in the social protection system, TIB said.
Governance Failures and Structural Barriers
The study identifies several obstacles: lack of Indigenous-sensitive policy directives, complex application and documentation processes, absence from policymaking and budget discussions, limited access to information, language barriers, and reluctance to engage with complaint mechanisms.
Barriers vary by region. In the plains, limited outreach, weak political representation, and low educational and digital capacity restrict access. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), geographic isolation, a lack of dedicated programmes, language constraints, limited information flow, and inadequate institutional capacity make inclusion even more difficult.
‘Marginalised Among the Marginalised’
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the findings expose “deep-rooted governance failures”.
“As a poor and historically marginalised community, Indigenous people should receive priority,” he said. “Instead, corruption, irregularities and weak governance continue to undermine their rights. The impact is even more severe because they are marginalised among the marginalised.”
Army Holds Key to Peace in CHT: TIB Executive Director
Addressing reporters’ questions, Dr Iftekharuzzaman spoke at length about peace and governance in the CHT. He said the Bangladesh Army holds the “primary key” to restoring stability in the hill region.
“The CHT remains under the authority of the army, and they have the ability to restore peace,” he said. He noted the armed forces’ global reputation for peacekeeping in 169 countries, currently serving in at least 10 missions.
“If they can help establish peace abroad, why can’t they ensure peace within their own jurisdiction?” he asked. “With genuine goodwill, the army can implement every clause of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.”
He added that although the interim government’s chief adviser used the term “Indigenous” in his first national address and pledged to restore peace in the CHT, no real progress has followed.
“The authority to restore peace is no longer with the government alone,” he said. “It becomes meaningful only if the army chooses to act.”
Call for Fairness and Stability
Dr Iftekharuzzaman said reducing disparities in access to social safety nets is essential for long-term stability.
“The findings clearly show that justice has not been achieved,” he said. “As a result, instability and dissatisfaction persist.”