Poverty to drop to half by 2021: Muhith

Finance Minister AMA Muhith anticipates reducing poverty to half of the current level by 2021, according to a news agency.
Speaking at a national seminar on 'Poverty Alleviation and Social Development: Role of Micro-Credit' Sunday, Muhith said acute poverty was on its way out in Bangladesh.
"Poverty won't be around in Bangladesh for much longer. So I don't want to talk of poverty alleviation, but of poverty eradication. Only some disadvantaged people like old and physically handicapped will need social security," said a confident sounding Muhith.
"Twenty-six per cent of our population is below poverty line now. That will drop to 14 to 15 per cent by 2021. Any country where only 14-15 per cent people are poor can no longer be called a poor country."