The number of new poor people in Bangladesh is estimated at around 24.5 million, roughly 14.7 percent of the total population, find a survey reported in Dhaka Tribune. The situation, however, improved in comparison to June last year when they were reported to be around 21 percent of the total population.

The Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD)  in Bangladesh jointly conducted the survey,  titled "PPRC-BIGD Rapid Response Research Phase III: Poverty Dynamics and Household Realities Part 1,". The finds were released on Tuesday in Dhaka.

Around 59 percent of “new poor” are in urban slums while the rest are in rural areas. The survey covered around 6000 people across the country both in urban and rural areas. The findings indicated urban slum dwellers are the worst affected.

Poor people across the country, the report finds, are still struggling with their livelihoods and facing emerging vulnerabilities, and their savings have shrunk significantly.

Savings have depleted around 24 percent in urban areas while 11 percent in rural areas, the survey suggested. The “new poor” are struggling to return to pre-Covid-19 income level and they are stuck in the poverty trap.