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Poverty and Social Inequality: Bangladesh Experience

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Building Sustainable Communities

Abstract

In response to relatively limited research on the subject, this study attempts to critically review the nature and processes of poverty and inequality in Bangladesh. By deploying a Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Synthesis (QIMS) method, it examines poverty and inequality from diverse angles including region, income, gender, education, land ownership and social opportunities. After revealing the intertwined dynamics and implications of poverty and inequality, the chapter offers some relevant policy options that may illuminate strategic decisions towards reducing poverty and social inequality in Bangladesh. The results reveal that notwithstanding the government’s clear recognition and commitment towards reduction, poverty and social inequality continue to pose and prompt formidable challenges for the country—notably the high level of rural–urban disparity in terms of income, education, gender, health facilities, land ownership and social opportunities. The chapter argues that Bangladesh would require an integrative action plan with a view to achieving progressive yet sustained income growth, empowering and promoting socio-economic and political inclusion, ensuring equal opportunities and reducing inequalities by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices for achieving greater equality.

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Acknowledgments

This chapter is based on the literature review section of the project ‘Poverty and inequality in Bangladesh: Regional disparity in particular reference to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ funded by the Ministry of Education, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and organized by the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information & Statistics (BANBEIS). The authors are grateful to the funding authority and organizer.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

The Ministry of Education, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    M. Rezaul Islam & Md. Rabiul Islam

  2. Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Niaz Ahmed Khan

  3. Department of Social Welfare, University of Mohammadiyah, Jakarta, Indonesia

    Adi Fahrudin

  4. Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO, Ministry of Education, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    A. K. M. Monirul Islam

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  1. M. Rezaul Islam
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  4. Md. Rabiul Islam
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  5. A. K. M. Monirul Islam
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Administration, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

    Md. Nurul Momen

  2. Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Rajendra Baikady

  3. Department of Social Work, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Rajendra Baikady

  4. Department of Social Work, Shandong University, Shandong, China

    Cheng Sheng Li

  5. Dept of Economic Studies and Planning, Central University of Karnataka, Kadganchi, Karnataka, India

    M. Basavaraj

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Rezaul Islam, M., Khan, N.A., Fahrudin, A., Islam, M.R., Islam, A.K.M.M. (2020). Poverty and Social Inequality: Bangladesh Experience. In: Momen, M.N., Baikady, R., Sheng Li, C., Basavaraj, M. (eds) Building Sustainable Communities. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2393-9_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2393-9_21

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