Target Area and Population: As mentioned earlier that the target of the NOBIDEP would be 14 Districts in total: eight in Rangpur Division (Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarth, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Gaibandha); and six in Mymensingh area of Dhaka Division (Jamalpur, Sherpur, Tangail, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Kishoreganj) and the the target population of the Project area is estimated to be 33 million, or 23.1% of the total population in Bangladesh. The population in Rangpur Division is 16 million,whereas that in Mymensingh area of the Dhaka Division is 17 million. Around 87%of the population in the Project area lives in the rural area. Following Table indicates the Target Districts and Population of Project Area.

Target Districts and Population of Project Area:

Target Pourashavas:

Based on close consultation with the LGED and JICA, the JICA commissioned survey team proposed that the total number of target Pourashavas should be 18, considering the amount of available funds and manageability of the Project. The target 18Pourashavas are presented in the following table: