THOUGH we have gradually achieved improvement in our socio-economic conditions poverty level continues to be a significant problem in the country with about 47 million people are still living in poverty and 26 million in extreme poverty. According to the preliminary report on Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)- 2016, unveiled in the city Tuesday people in rural areas are spending beyond their means each month adding to their hardship.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) report based on survey over 46,076 households, which is almost four times the sample of the survey held in 2010 made another striking revelation that poverty in some districts are much higher than others demanding powerful policy action. The report showed overall monthly expenditure of a family increased more than its income between 2010 and 2016, which is a matter of serious concern. It further showed in rural areas a family usually spent Tk 14,156 per month in 2016 as against its income reported at Tk 13,353.
Rural poverty continues to be considerably higher and more extreme than in urban areas. While the decline of extreme poverty in rural areas has been impressive from 37.9 percent in 2000 to 21.1 percent in 2010 the poverty level remains almost three times than that of urban areas. Rural poverty and food security thus remain the biggest development challenge with the need for making growth to be more pro-poor inclusive and comprehensive. The monthly expenditure of a rural family rose 47 percent in 2016 from Tk 9,612 in 2010. But the income of a rural household rose only by 38 percent in six years to Tk 13,353 per month in 2016.
The report also came out with quarterly prediction of poverty for the first time along with the annual poverty data and overall living standards of Bangladesh’s 16 crore people. It shows overall poverty level declined to 24.3 percent in 2016 from 31.5 percent in 2010, while the percentage of people under extreme poverty fell to 12.9 percent in 2016 from 17.6 percent in 2010 at the national level. The particular report however showed poverty reduction rate is slowing down.
It has also pointed out that though the ratio of poverty-affected people fell both in rural and urban areas the proportion of ultra-poor in 31 districts is higher than the national average of 12.9 percent. The overall incidence of poverty in 36 districts is 24.3 percent, which is higher than the national average. Kurigram has the highest number of poor at 70.8 percent while Narayanganj has the lowest number at 2.6 percent.
Poverty reduction is a huge challenge for us. Now Rohingya crisis being added to that makes it even harder. We hope that the government would take focused action to remove poverty faster and equitable in all regions.
