DHAKA: Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Friday said it is possible to make a poverty-free Bangladesh by 2018 if country's economic development will continue. 

He came up with assertion while addressing the two-day conference of Rotary International at City Hall-1 of Bashundhara Convention Center in Baridhara in the city.

The minister said, “I believe that if there is political stability in the country, poverty will be alleviated by 2018. Poor people of the country will free from curse of poverty in the next four years.”

He said that 50 percent of the country lived below the poverty line in 1991. The country is moving ahead much from the situation.

Urging humanitarian organizations, including Rotary, to come forward for the development of the country, the minister opined that as a developing country, it is not possible for the government alone to achieve the overall national development.

In his inaugural speech, Muhith said Rotary is operating different development programs in remote areas of the country. The role of the Rotary especially in education, health, women's empowerment and socio-economic development of the rural population is commendable, he added.

Rotary has an effective role in making polio-free country, the minister also said. 

The Rotary International has arranged the conference with participation of Rotarians from across the country.

Rotary International's representative Ching-Cheng Ku, the Governor of Rotary Bangladesh Safina Rahman also spoke at the conference.

BDST: 1554 HRS, MAR 13, 2015