Asymmetrical governance and territorial welfare allocation in Bangladesh

This study examines how Social Safety Net Programs (SSNPs) in Bangladesh generate spatially differentiated welfare outcomes within a unitary governance system. It conceptualizes these patterns as programmatic asymmetry, where welfare resources are unevenly distributed based on regional variations in poverty, vulnerability, and demographic conditions. Using qualitative secondary analysis of government data, HIES, and existing literature, the study evaluates allocation patterns, primarily through the Employment Generation Programme for the Poorest (EGPP). The findings indicate a partially aligned but imperfect relationship between allocation and need: while poorer regions receive relatively higher support, inconsistencies persist due to data limitations, administrative constraints, and potential political influences. The study contributes by reframing welfare allocation in Bangladesh as programmatic asymmetry rather than constitutional asymmetry and highlights the importance of transparent, data-driven allocation mechanisms to improve equity and effectiveness. Because the empirical analysis primarily relies on descriptive secondary data from the EGPP programme, the findings should be interpreted cautiously and not as a causal evaluation of all SSNP allocation patterns in Bangladesh.