The poverty rate in Bangladesh came down to 20.5 per cent in the fiscal 2018-19. The figure was 21.8 at the end of 2017-18 fiscal year.
Planning Minister MA Mannan gave the information while briefing the media after the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting at the NEC conference room in the city on Tuesday.
"Extreme poverty rate also dropped to 10.5 per cent in 2018-19, which was 11.3 per cent in 2017-18," the planning minister said quoting the data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) that was presented at the meeting.
MA Mannan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is happy for the success in reducing poverty, according to local agencies
"She (the prime minister) thanked farmers, labourers and all people in general for their contribution in eradicating poverty," the planning minister added.