Financial Inclusion in Bangladesh: Evidence from Two Villages

Abstract

The paper uses participatory research to explore the extent of financial inclusion in two villages in Northeastern Bangladesh. It also uses Findex database to draw a comparative image of financial access in Bangladesh and other parts of the world. While Bangladesh data on financial inclusion exhibit financial capacity of the market, participatory evidence shows financial capability of the service receivers. Review of literature, secondary data and participatory evidences show that there are substantial financial gaps across the economies and within the households. In rural context, it is evident that financial access is low in developing countries like Bangladesh.