DHAKA: The ‘Millennium Development Goals: Bangladesh Progress Report-2013’ shows that poverty rate stands at 26.2 percent across the country.

Dr Shamshul Alam, member of General Economic Division of (GED) Planning Commission, said these at the report summary unveiling program at NEC-2 conference room at the commission on Sunday.

Shamsul, during presenting the main report, said, due to inclusive growth, it has been possible to bring down the poverty rate from 56.7 percent in 1991-1992 to 31.5 percent in 2010.

Poverty rate has decreased more in the present decade than the past decade, he added.

According to the last household income and expenditure survey 2010, poverty has decreased at an average rate of 1.74 percent from 2000 to 2010 and the existing poverty rate is 26.2 percent.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Planning Minster AHM Mustafa Kamal, Prime Minister’s economic affairs adviser Dr. Moshiur Rahman, Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s resident representative Pauline Tamesis, among others, were present.

BDST: 1321 HRS, SEP 07, 2014