Social Safety-Net Exclusion in Rural Bangladesh: A Case Study of Majlishpur Union

Despite extensive national-level research on social protection coverage and targeting in Bangladesh, the local institutional and social mechanisms driving the exclusion of eligible rural households remain insufficiently explored. This study examines the institutional, administrative, and socio-political barriers that impede equitable access to Social Safety Net Programmes (SSNPs) in rural Bangladesh, with a specific focus on food-based and cash transfer schemes in Majlishpur Union of Brahmanbaria District. Although the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) has been supported by sustained fiscal commitment and strategic reforms, persistent targeting errors continue to undermine the effectiveness of social protection interventions. The study draws on household survey data from 135 respondents (beneficiaries and eligible non-beneficiaries) and data from other key stakeholders, bringing the total number of participants to 160. The findings of the study indicate that, although budgetary constraints restrict the number of households that can be covered, the nature and distribution of exclusion are shaped mainly by institutional and governance failures in beneficiary identification, selection and programme delivery.