BD to get rid of poverty by 2024: Muhith

CHITTAGONG, Mar 15 (BSS): Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith today said that Bangladesh will be able to eradicate poverty within 2024 as various poverty alleviation programmes undertaken by the government are being implemented successfully across the country.

The finance minister said over three crore countrymen are living below the poverty line, out of which over one and a half crore live below extreme poverty. These people must be made financially solvent to free the country from the curse of poverty by 2024, he added.

The finance minister said this while addressing as the chief guest at an international conference on "Finance for Sustainable Growth and Development" held on Chittagong University campus.

Paying rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the finance minister said Bangladesh has achieved remarkable development and progress for attaining economic emancipation as the country has already been acclaimed as a role model across the world.

He said the population growth rate in the country has declined, improvements in health and education are also instrumental in eliminating poverty throughout the country.