The World Bank Managing Director of Operations Axel van Trotsenburg said Bangladesh has shown the world what can be done to dramatically reduce poverty through successful innovations in human development, women’s empowerment, and climate adaptation.
Recently, new World Bank Country Director to Bangladesh and Bhutan Abdoulaye Seck termed Bangladesh a ‘true global champion’ on various fronts, saying the economic capacity of Bangladesh is much better compared to other countries in Asia. The world leaders are now praising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s bold leadership, highlighting her tireless efforts that made Bangladesh a role model before the globe.
Besides, all global development partners like International Monetary Fund (IMF) and international agencies are also lauding Bangladesh’s ongoing development works alongside poverty alleviation. The Washington Post, a prestigious US newspaper, highly acclaimed Sheikh Hasina’s leadership highlighting her tireless efforts for women empowerment along with her remarkable success in poverty reduction.
If corruption continues engulfing
all sectors, it would be very
tough to make Bangladesh
a poverty-free country
In 2005-06 period country’s poverty rate was 41.5 percent and currently this rate is 20 percent. However, corruption is still a major obstacle to poverty alleviation and development in our country. Reaffirming her government’s tough stance against corruption and irregularities, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also repeatedly issued strong warning against graft especially by public servants.
But the common people are yet to get rid of the menace of corruption, irregularities and mismanagement as no stern action has been taken against the corrupt officials and employees from grassroots to central level. Being encouraged, these organised corrupt officials and employees forming an unofficial syndicate continue resorting corruption across the country.
The government continued investing in poverty alleviation, public health, and education in order to ensure the wellbeing of countrymen and reduce inequality. Today, Bangladesh has attained the eligibility to join the ranks of developing countries from the list of least developed countries (LDCs). The lifestyle of many landless and homeless people has changed after getting land and home. Most of the landless and homeless people have already been given land and home and there are few left which are also being constructed.
Many people who got Ashrayan houses on two-decimal lands are also growing vegetables, rearing chickens, getting involved in cottage industries and opening shops there.
So, they are finding a way to have a decent living and their life is changing. But if corruption continues engulfing all sectors, it would be very tough to make Bangladesh a poverty-free country.