It is encouraging to note that the National Economic Council (NEC) has approved a revised annual development program (RADP) of Tk 1,97,643 crore for the current financial year, keeping the highest priority to poverty alleviation projects.
In view of enviable success in various socio-economic indicators in the last decade under the pragmatic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has now become a developing country. The incumbent government has successfully reduced the country’s poverty rate by 50 percent in the last ten years.
In order to sustain our economic growth and make it more
inclusive, the government must take initiatives for enhancing
poor people's participation in economic activities
Recently, Bangladesh has set an ambitious target to alleviate extreme poverty to 2.3 percent by 2031 and moderate poverty to below 3 percent by 2041. In order to chase this target within the stipulated time, we must devise necessary measures to address some key issues such as climate change, natural disasters and weak rural infrastructure which have long been deterring our efforts towards eradicating poverty.
The remarkable development that the country has gained over the last twelve years of the Awami League regime has instilled confidence in the people and they are now ready to march forward. Bangladesh's efforts to eradicate poverty are now very well recognised and admired throughout the world. Though we have achieved huge success in poverty alleviation in recent times, the rate of poverty reduction is not adequate compared to the country’s striking growth rate.
There is no denying that the government is providing allowance for the poor and needy. But apart from giving allowance, it has become more of a necessity to involve the poor in income-generating works.
The rich-poor divide has been growing over the past decade in Bangladesh. Therefore, in order to sustain our economic growth and make it more inclusive, the government must take initiatives for enhancing poor people's participation in economic activities.The government should place more emphasis on creating jobs that can help people come out of poverty.