Measuring the level of rurality in the Southwestern region of Bangladesh

Abstract This research intends to measure and characterize the level of rurality in the southwestern region of Bangladesh using an indexing approach from functional perspective. The findings of the study can be conducive for efficient decision making related to rural development policies and planning. Besides, operational delineation of administrative units, such as Unions and Wards, is essential for the formulation and effective implementation of evidence-based development initiatives. The study has utilized the latest available population census data published by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The results reveal that Satkhira district exhibits a higher degree of rurality (RI = 4.23) compared to Khulna (RI = 3.58) and Bagerhat (RI = 4.14) districts. This variation among the three districts is ascribed to existing rural–urban disparities. The study underscores the primary influence of socio-economic factors on the rural–urban disparities, with a secondary role for demographic and infrastructural aspects. However, education's impact was notably limited in this context. Insights on intra-district disparities infer that Khulna district exhibits significantly greater rural–urban disparities than the other two. The study also highlights the clustering of non-rural areas along major rivers. This research will assist rural planners and policy makers in understanding the specific rural dynamics of the study area, essential for tailoring fit-to-context development strategies. Moreover, the study provides a basis for classifying the region into clusters to streamline development priorities and resource allocation. Furthermore, the article presents a transferable methodology for evaluating rurality and delineating rural regions in different contexts.