Social-cultural norms, not extreme poverty, behind most discrimination in Bangladesh: Poverty watch report | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
July 05, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, JULY 05, 2025
Social-cultural norms, not extreme poverty, behind most discrimination in Bangladesh: Poverty watch report

Bangladesh

TBS Report
08 May, 2024, 08:30 pm
Last modified: 08 May, 2024, 09:55 pm

Related News

  • Bangladesh seeks to boost ties with Nepal: Foreign secretary
  • Dhaka wants to strengthen economic cooperation with Colombo
  • Arrested Bangladeshis were collecting funds for IS activities in Bangladesh, Syria: Malaysia police
  • Morocco signs strategic deal to supply 1.1 million tonnes of fertiliser to Bangladesh
  • Bangladesh expects US tariff relief after Trump announces cuts to Vietnam

Social-cultural norms, not extreme poverty, behind most discrimination in Bangladesh: Poverty watch report

The report showed that the fundamental problems of these 'left-behind' communities were directly or indirectly related to the day-to-day functioning of local governments and local institutions. 

TBS Report
08 May, 2024, 08:30 pm
Last modified: 08 May, 2024, 09:55 pm
File Photo: TBS
File Photo: TBS

Marginalised and vulnerable communities in Bangladesh suffer more from social exclusion and "cruel" social attitudes rather than extreme poverty due to existing socio-cultural norms, a report unveiled today (8 May) said. 

The report titled "Bangladesh Poverty Watch Report 2023", prepared jointly by the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development and the Center for Inclusive Development Dialogue (CIDD), said discrimination was a systematic human rights abuse that led to extreme poverty, violence, inequality and exclusion.

Speaking at the programme at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital, MA Mannan, chairman of the Jatiya Sangsad committee on the Ministry of Planning, said close attention needs to be paid to marginalised communities and the government was working in this regard. However, much more needed to be done. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Mustafa K Mujeri, executive director, Inclusive Finance and Development, said while poverty was decreasing in the country, inequality was increasing. There was a disparity in various areas, including income inequality, education and health care. 

The government should talk to the people at the grassroots and solve their problems, he suggested. 

Highlighting the main points of the report, Inclusive Finance and Development research fellow Farhana Nargis said, "Poverty is more than just material deprivation; money and statistics cannot provide a full picture of poverty. Self-realisation and individual experiences are important dimensions of poverty. 

type="image" fid="933321" layout="normal" caption="1" infograph="1" psi="0" parallax="0" popup="1" news_break="0"[/media

"In this report, the participants in fact have 'written' their own life stories, the biggest value of which is the insights into the 'making of poverty and deprivation' in their communities. The analysis brings out emerging priorities for policies as well as challenges of poverty and deprivation in Bangladesh."

She pointed out that according to the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2022, nearly 10 million people live below the lower or extreme poverty line in Bangladesh. 

The report showed that the fundamental problems of these 'left-behind' communities were directly or indirectly related to the day-to-day functioning of local governments and local institutions. 

What the report found

The report, which covered plain land ethnic minorities, river gipsies (Bede) and commercial sex workers, found these communities displayed some common features and characteristics of exclusion and marginalisation. 

All these marginalised and disadvantaged communities suffered from forced displacement emanating from different sources. They were also excluded from mainstream community support mechanisms and services, structural barriers to socio-political participation and decision-making processes, unfavourable market forces and exclusion from human development efforts and economic opportunities. 

While most members of these communities did not live in abject poverty, the report found despite earning a reasonable amount, their access to education, healthcare, and social and financial services was extremely limited.

They faced hostile social attitudes and exclusion, forcing them to resort to seeking low-quality services from the informal sector. 

Regarding decision-making, community representation was limited to campaigning in support of other candidates in exchange for money, but none had ever participated in local and general elections. This was mainly due to them thinking their marginal identity was an impediment to participating in elections. 

The economic hardships they face is primarily due to their inability to participate in the workforce. 

The survey was conducted on 300 people from June to September last year.      

On the issue of poverty, it said the national poverty headcount rate declined by nearly 62% between 2020 and 2022. It also noted a sizable decline in the incidence of extreme poverty, with the percentage of population under the lower poverty line – the threshold for extreme poverty – falling by nearly 84$ between 2000-22.

Top News

Poverty Watch Report / Bangladesh / Discrimination

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Customs bureaucracy: Luxury cars rot at Ctg port
    Customs bureaucracy: Luxury cars rot at Ctg port
  • Infograph: TBS
    How BB’s floating rate regime calms forex market
  • Infograph: TBS
    Low-skilled Saudi jobs getting tougher for Bangladeshis amid mandatory certification, poor salary

MOST VIEWED

  • 3 July 2024: Momentum builds as quota protest enters third day
    3 July 2024: Momentum builds as quota protest enters third day
  • What it will take to merge crisis-hit Islamic banks
    What it will take to merge crisis-hit Islamic banks
  • A meeting of the Advisory Council Committee chaired by the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus held on 3 July 2025. Photo: PID
    Govt Service Ordinance: Compulsory retirement to replace dismissal for misconduct in govt job 
  • NCC Bank’s operations to remain suspended for 120 hours from 8 July
    NCC Bank’s operations to remain suspended for 120 hours from 8 July
  • Graphics: TBS
    Foreign currency in offshore banking units now eligible as collateral for taka loans
  • Govt to pay 3-year high ACU bill of $2b next week
    Govt to pay 3-year high ACU bill of $2b next week

Related News

  • Bangladesh seeks to boost ties with Nepal: Foreign secretary
  • Dhaka wants to strengthen economic cooperation with Colombo
  • Arrested Bangladeshis were collecting funds for IS activities in Bangladesh, Syria: Malaysia police
  • Morocco signs strategic deal to supply 1.1 million tonnes of fertiliser to Bangladesh
  • Bangladesh expects US tariff relief after Trump announces cuts to Vietnam

Features

Students of different institutions protest demanding the reinstatement of the 2018 circular cancelling quotas in recruitment in government jobs. Photo: Mehedi Hasan

5 July 2024: Students announce class boycott amid growing protests

9h | Panorama
Contrary to long-held assumptions, Gen Z isn’t politically clueless — they understand both local and global politics well. Photo: TBS

A misreading of Gen Z’s ‘political disconnect’ set the stage for Hasina’s ouster

13h | Panorama
Graphics: TBS

How courier failures are undermining Bangladesh’s online perishables trade

13h | Panorama
The July Uprising saw people from all walks of life find themselves redrawing their relationship with politics. Photo: Mehedi Hasan

Red July: The political awakening of our urban middle class

22h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Ukraine war: Trump under pressure from his own party

Ukraine war: Trump under pressure from his own party

14h | TBS World
News of The Day, 04 JULY 2025

News of The Day, 04 JULY 2025

13h | TBS News of the day
Contractor witnesses shooting of hungry people in Gaza

Contractor witnesses shooting of hungry people in Gaza

16h | TBS Stories
Iran has started arresting Afghans

Iran has started arresting Afghans

40m | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net