1.5 crore people become poor during corona pandemic: BIDS

The country's poverty rate now stands at 18.7 percent, of which 9 percent have fallen anew during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS).

The research findings were disclosed at the opening ceremony of two-day 'BIDS Research Almanac 2023' organised by BIDS on Wednesday.

The director general of the organisation, Binayak Sen, said, “In the latest survey of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 18.7 percent poverty rate has been mentioned, almost half or 9 percent of the total poor have become poor newly during the period of coronavirus pandemic. Earlier they were elevated to the lower middle class.”

He said the country's poverty rate would have come down to around 10 percent if coronavirus pandemic would not be faced. 

Binayak suggested the government to take necessary measures to raise these new poor people above the poverty line. 

He also opined to take special programs to bring back dropout students especially in primary schools.