The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The number of abject poor rose by 35 per cent in five years despite over 400 non- governmental organisations (NGOs) are working for poverty reduction and their model has been imported by many countries of the world.

According to a survey conducted by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the number of abject poor in the country is 27 million in 2005, while the figure in the year 2000 was 20 million.

The latest survey also pointed out that the number of poor people in the country increased by about 3 million. The number of poor people in 2005 was around 94 million, while it was 91 million in the year 2000.

As the number of abject poor is on the rise, regional disparity rose as well. The survey said although poverty reduced in Chittagong and Sylhet districts, the situation aggravated in Barisal and Khulna regions.

Prof. Dr Mahbub Ali, an economist, said it is clear that the rise in number of abject poor meant disparity in income increased.

The economist considers immediate steps should be taken to eliminate the uncertainty of income of poor. He said the government should take programmes on maintaining minimum standard in life, otherwise Bangladesh will turn to be a nation of economic disparity, he added.