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Editorial

PM calls for concerted efforts to get rid of hunger, poverty

Prioritise inclusive and micro-level development over economic grow


Bangladeshpost
Published : 25 Mar 2023 09:13 PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged all to work for building a golden Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty. “Let us join hands to build the Golden Bangladesh, free from hunger and poverty, by upholding the ideology of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said. She made the call in a recorded radio and televised message on the eve of the 52nd Independence Day of Bangladesh.

Gone were the days when poverty and Bangladesh were synonymous for many years to the international community. The scenario has changed and Bangladesh's efforts to eradicate poverty are now very well recognised and admired throughout the world. 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 middle-income country. The remarkable development that the country has gained over the last ten years has instilled the confidence into people that becoming a developed nation is very much possible.

In order to make our economic

 growth more inclusive, the

 government must take 

initiatives for enhancing 

poor people's participation 

in economic activities 

The incumbent  government has successfully reduced the country’s poverty rate by 50 percent in the last ten years.  However, the country 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, necessary initiatives should be taken 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 global health crisis caused by Covid-19 has hit Bangladesh's economy hard and jeopardised the country's impressive achievements in poverty reduction. 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.

Though we have achieved enviable success in poverty alleviation, the rate of poverty reduction is not adequate compared to the country’s striking growth rate. Also, the rich-poor divide has been growing remarkably in Bangladesh. 

Hence,  the government should give more priority to inclusive and micro-level development than economic growth. In order to make our economic growth more inclusive, the government must take initiatives for enhancing poor people's participation in economic activities.