WB report proves Bangladesh’s poverty reduction: Hasan Mahmud

Referring to a recent World Bank (WB) report, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that poverty in the country has been decreasing and dismissed any contrary claims on the matter.

The minister said the report proves that some “so-called research and social organisations” in the country have published “fabricated and purposeful” reports on poverty in the country with the aim of misleading the people. He hoped such propaganda would stop after the WB report figures.

He made the remarks while speaking to the media at his official residence at Minto Road in the capital on Saturday over the report.

The World Bank on April 13 released the report titled “Bangladesh Development Update – Recovery and Resilience Amid Global Uncertainty” which highlighted Bangladesh's progress in the midst of global uncertainty.

The report said, “Following a strong economic recovery from the pandemic, estimated poverty declined to 11.9 percent in FY21 from 12.5 percent in FY20, as per the international poverty rate.”

Citing the report data, Hasan Mahmud said, “Even during the pandemic, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, poverty has been reduced in Bangladesh.”

Moreover, he hoped the report’s findings will put a stop to misleading propaganda about poverty disseminated by some media.

Hasan Mahmud said the report ranks Bangladesh third among the only 20 countries in the world that have a positive GDP growth rate in 2020-21 even during the pandemic.

“The two counties above Bangladesh — South Sudan and Guinea — have much smaller economies and populations. Thus, Bangladesh can be called the number one in GDP growth in the world, he said.