About 35 Million People Live Below the Poverty Line, Another 20 Million at Risk: Debapriya

About 35 million people in the country are living below the poverty line. Among them, about 10 million are in extreme poverty. Although they are above the poverty line, at least another 20 million people are at risk of becoming poor anew.

Eminent economist and distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Debapriya Bhattacharya said many of those at risk could slip back below the poverty line if they were unable to work for just two days. In such a situation, he urged that alongside economic progress, the social and political rights of disadvantaged people be ensured.

Debapriya Bhattacharya said these things on Thursday (12 November) in the capital at a publication event of the all-party parliamentary caucus for disadvantaged communities. The chief guest at the event was Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

Debapriya Bhattacharya said that although Bangladesh has achieved significant economic progress in the last 55 years, the necessary changes in social transformation and political culture have not occurred alongside that progress. The most neglected people in society have not been properly included in the mainstream of the economy and society.

He said one in every four young people in the country is unemployed. For educated young people, the rate is one in every three. Although average life expectancy has reached about 74 years, the child mortality rate is higher among disadvantaged communities. Children from these families also show tendencies of dropping out of school and child labour.

He also said cleaners, persons with disabilities, residents of drought-prone areas of northern Bengal and coastal communities are lagging behind in education, health and social security. They are also more often victims of misgovernance, corruption and nepotism. Many times they do not receive proper dignity and fairness from the administration, the political structure or even civil society.

Debapriya said ensuring the rights of disadvantaged people is not only the responsibility of civil society or private entrepreneurs; elected representatives must also take this responsibility. They need to play a direct role in protecting the rights and interests of those whose votes elected them as members of parliament. If the advanced part of society does not speak for those left behind, at some point their own achievements will also be at risk, and democracy, development and social stability could be threatened.

At the event, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said politicians are mainly responsible for the increase in the number of disadvantaged people in the country. Although bureaucrats are often blamed, they work under politicians. After being elected or getting a party post, politicians often stay busy securing their own benefits without thinking about disadvantaged people. He said, 'If politics is set right, the country will also be set right.'

The Speaker also said that if the democratic system continues, the importance of disadvantaged people will increase. If members of parliament take initiatives sincerely, it is possible to change the face of the country. The election system must be reformed to stop the use of black money and create opportunities for qualified persons to take part in elections without wealth.

Caucus president and MP Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon said this is the first time in the history of parliament since independence that such a large all-party parliamentary caucus has been formed for disadvantaged communities. Twenty-five MPs from different parties have joined it. He said the money of the state's development budget is being wasted through corruption, tax and VAT evasion, grabbing of government land and bank looting. On one side the government has to borrow, and on the other side some people are becoming owners of huge wealth. Without controlling corruption, the development of disadvantaged people is not possible.

BNP MP Nurul Islam Moni said economic emancipation must be ensured for the development of backward communities. For this, all sides including the government and the opposition must work unitedly. He also emphasized reform of the education system and building a production-oriented mindset.

At the event, MPs Mahmuda Habiba, Fazlul Haque, Mahmudul Islam, Sabikun Nahar Munni and Dr Mahmuda Mitu, among other speakers, called for ensuring the rights of disadvantaged people, their education and healthcare, and their participation in policymaking.