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Notwithstanding the optimism expressed by various sources from time to time about poverty situation in Bangladesh, the fact is that a vast number of the population of the country continues to be poor or very poor. The outcome of the poverty surveys cannot be relied on so unhesitatingly because the same can mask many unrecognised developments. The surveys may not have taken into account the number of those who fail to sustain in their existence above the poverty line due to all kinds of adversities that afflict their lives including crop failure, flood, cyclones, river erosion etc. These factors and some others make accurate poverty estimation a truly formidable exercise . Thus, there is no room for relaxation from a thinking that anti-poverty measures are making a major impact. The road to poverty alleviation remains long and difficult and policy-makers need to engage themselves with even greater dedication to make a notable dent in the poverty situation.
According to credible assessments of the country's reputed economists, the fruits of economic growth have been monopolised by a small section of the population and even the trickle-down theory has not worked so much in the case of Bangladesh. Wealth concentration in a few hands, lack of distributive justice in economic policies and corruption have clearly frustrated the desire to relieve a much bigger number of the population from the pains of poverty. Therefore, policy makers will have to address these issues effectively and at the fastest to make a meaningful headway against poverty.
S A Alam
GUlshan,
Dhaka
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