Middle class decaying amid inequality in wealth, consumption: CPD
Staff Reporter :
The inequality of wealth and consumption has widened over the last 15 years in Bangladesh, said Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and convener of Citizen Platform Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya on Wednesday.
“Despite the economic growth, marginalized groups continue to be left behind.
These people are still struggling to access education, healthcare, and government aid, even though the government has taken various welfare measures,” Dr Debapriya expressed.
He said these yesterday at a media briefing on ‘Citizen Agenda for Inclusive Development and Equity: Education, Health, Climate Change and Social Security’ at BRAC Centre at Mohakhali in the capital.
In response to a question the economist said, the middle-class society of Bangladesh has become weak and decayed. The decline of middle-class society has economic, political, and cultural significance.
Inequality not only in wealth or money but also in consumption and getting state benefits has widened. Backward people could not be pioneers in terms of education, health, and consumption,” Debapriya said.
He also noted that Bangladesh was once described as “one country, two economies,” but that today it is more accurately described as “one country, two societies,” with a backward society coexisting alongside a much more advanced one.
He further emphasized that bringing equity back to development is the next generation’s biggest challenge.
“Without democratic accountability, this deficit cannot be filled.”
“Elections are the primary means of democratic accountability, allowing citizens to express their voice and choose their leaders.
Therefore, it is essential that national elections reflect the voice of all citizens,” he said during the press conference.
Dr Debapriya mentioned that national elections must reflect the voice of all citizens as polls are the primary means of democratic accountability.
Debapriya said, “I was not motivated to give advice because of the pre-election situation in 2014 and 2018.
But this time, on the eve of the national election, we have tried to evaluate the development experience of the last decade and a half.”
It is necessary to understand how true and strong the narrative of national development the people always are hearing Shaheen Anam, executive director of the Manusher Janya Foundation, presided over the function.
The media briefing was conducted by Professor Dr Mostafizur Rahman. Three separate presentations on education, health, and climate-focused topics were released at the event.
