Barriers of Accessing Social Protection Programmes for the Poor and Marginalized is a diagnostic research study by Dr. Abdur Razzaque, Dr. Syed Mortuza Ehsan, and Md. Imran Hossain Bhuiyan. The report explores the challenges faced by disadvantaged communities in Bangladesh when trying to access government social protection schemes.

Despite the Government’s strong commitment to reducing poverty and inequality through social safety nets, many poor and marginalized groups remain excluded due to bureaucratic hurdles, lack of awareness, complex application processes, geographical inaccessibility, and social discrimination. The study emphasizes that without addressing these barriers, the intended benefits of social protection cannot fully reach those who need them most.

By identifying gaps in delivery systems and highlighting voices from the ground, this research provides practical recommendations to make social protection more inclusive, transparent, and effective. It calls for reforms in programme design, improved targeting, simplified processes, and stronger community engagement to ensure that vulnerable people—such as women, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and rural poor—are not left behind.

This publication serves as a key resource for policymakers, practitioners, and development partners working towards a more equitable and inclusive social protection system in Bangladesh.