61.1 crore people in the country are at high risk of poverty, 2 million unemployed in two years: World Bank

61.1 crore people in the country are at high risk of poverty. 2 million people have lost their jobs in the last two years and at least 8 lakh more are expected to become unemployed this year. According to experts, the real picture of poverty was hidden due to inflated data presented in surveys in the past.

The World Bank report says that inequality is increasing due to more benefits and mismanagement of the social security sector for wealthy families. The organization has recommended ensuring transparency and creating a corruption-free management to deal with this situation.

Ibrahim, 47, a resident of Bhola. He spent his 12-year-old life abroad while sending his son abroad for treatment. He now earns a living in a van bought with an NGO loan. Ibrahim said, there is no environment to live in. The money I earned earlier, my son has wasted it by going abroad.

Next door, Noor Jahan Begum is busy, now she runs a tea shop. Two years ago, she had a rice hotel, and savings. But she lost everything while coping with the pressure of commodity prices and the cost of living. She said, people do not have money. Even sitting in a tea shop costs 50-100 taka. People do not come. The situation in the country is bad. There is no government.

This reality of the lives of low-income people is reflected in the World Bank report. It says that about 61 million people in the country are at high risk of poverty. In the last two years, 2 million people have lost their jobs and this year, another 800,000 people may lose their jobs. Women and youth are more among the affected.

Economist Dr. Zahid Hossain said that the income of low-income workers has not increased at the same rate as the prices of daily necessities are increasing. The purchasing power of their wages is continuously decreasing.

The report mentions that the poverty rate in the country has increased in the last four years. This year, this number may exceed 21 percent. Employment crisis, job losses, high inflation and stagnant wages - these are the main reasons for the increase in poverty.

Dr. Zahid Hossain also said that there is no mention in the report that there was a big problem in the growth numbers, which was exaggerated. Even what was said in their report in 2022. Those issues are not brought here. Here it is assumed that the growth number was correct, we think that where 7 percent was said, it may have been four or below.

The report also says that social security benefits are being received more by rich families. Inequality is not decreasing due to mismanagement and corruption in the sector. To address this situation, the World Bank has recommended building a corruption-free social security system.