ZCZC
BSS-41
MOMEN-POVERTY-REDUCTION
Extreme poverty to fall below 5 percent :Momen
SYLHET, Oct 12, 2019 (BSS) – With the increase of allocation for social safety net by five times enabling the ultra poor to improve their living standard, the government is geared to bring down the country’s extreme poverty rate below 5 percent within the next five years.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said this today at a function marking the cheque distribution of a project to improve tea workers’ living standard at the Upazila Parishad auditorium in the city.
Sadar Upazila Social Services Office organized the function with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kazi Mahuya Mamtaz in the chair.
Momen said “About 20.8 percent people are living under poverty line. The government, however, is attaching priority to bring down the country’s extreme poverty rate”.
Referring to the government’s different initiatives to improve the living standard of the tea workers as well as the country’s people, Momen said the allocation for social safety net programme has been increased by five times compared to the previous time.
He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had established voting rights of the tea workers while his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is relentlessly working to improve their living standard.
Sadar Upazila Chairman Ashfaq Ahmad and District Social Services Officer Nibas Ranjan Das addressed the function as special guests.
Conducted by Upazila Social Services Officer Farhana Nasrin, Tea Workers’ Union President Raju Goyala delivered welcome speech in the function.
Later, the foreign minister distributed cheques for Taka 94.40 lakh among 1888 tea workers and cheques for Taka 56.53 lakh among 142 volunteer organizations.
BSS/Corr/SAH/KU/2029 HRS