Amartya Sen vides his famous treatise ''Poverty and Famine.'' Defines "Poverty as deprivation and powerlessness due to inability of accessing certain entitlements guaranteed by rights." It calls for the entitlement approach, emphasizes the elimination of deprivation of the poor from the minimum acceptable way of life. The world is facing disruptive changes more than ever in recent times, because of the Global pandemic COVID-19. The human cost of COVID-19 has been devastating. This crisis has a mid and long terms impact on poverty, which now threatens the achievement in poverty alleviation of our country. In case of poverty reduction, at the moment, the government should make the best possible efforts at implementation and monitoring of projects, so that their impact on poverty reduction is truly felt.

An Overview of Poverty Scenario in Bangladesh

As in many developing countries, poverty in Bangladesh has been an alarming social issue. Along with accelerated economic growth since the early-2000s, Bangladesh has experienced dramatic progress in reducing poverty. Prior to COVID -19 according to Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA), the extreme poverty rate was 10.5 percent while people living below the poverty line were 20.5% and the poverty rate was11.4%. During COVID -19 the extreme poverty rate doubled from the existing 10.5 % while the poverty rate went up 30% to 35%. As the income of the working class in urban and rural areas has fallen sharply, Bangladesh will have 16.4 million become new poor in 2020. Now it is a challenge to bring down the number of new poor and to bring the percentage of people living below the poverty line drastically from 30 % to 10 percent.

The country has undertaken various efforts for improving the socio-economic conditions of the poor through various poverty reduction approaches. Microcredit and other efforts of government and non-government agencies greatly inspired, encouraged, and influenced the community towards poverty alleviation from all angles and dimensions.

Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in the last 20 years in improving the lives of women and girls. Amartya Sen pointed out in his new book "An Uncertain Glory" that through affords of the government and non-government organizations, Bangladesh achieved the development in women empowerment.

Amid the mounting human toll and global economic fallout triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect people, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, the governments have acted quickly with public health directives, stimulus package, and strengthen social protection programs. The Economic stimulus rollout targeting the most vulnerable was done under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Watch. Thus tackle the pandemic, accelerate recovery and build resilience and revive the economy.

Yet the improvements mentioned above are quite inadequate in comparison with actual expectations. Hence, the overall poverty situation of our country portraits a gloomy scenario:

• So far, a large number of people are illiterate, unskilled, and unemployed. Management of mobility and its development for expatriate workers is not satisfactory.

• Economic inequality and the gap between the rich are rising steadily. Due to unequal distribution and absence of 'inclusion of the excluded' in development.

• Now, it is a challenge to overcome the negative impacts of COVID -19 on the education sector. During the pandemic, the dropout of students, child marriage, and child labor has increased manifolds. Poverty is the main reason for this enhancement.

• According to a recent WHO report "There is discrimination in health services in the rural and urban areas, poor people cannot afford to buy the private health care services."

• Social instability and insecurity are rising. Countless women and children are deprived of basic needs and suffering from a dire lack of securities, ignoring the human cost of economic growth.

• The constitution says to give special benefits to the backward sections of people and ethnic minorities. But it is unfortunate that this recognition is not properly executed. The government's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will never succeed without updating the -living standards and empowering backward sections of people and ethnic communities.

Poor Shape of Poverty: Main Causes

• COVID -19 pandemic exacerbated the persistent economic and gender inequalities. These inequalities increase poverty.

• Voicelessness and powerlessness are characteristics of the poor. Corruption, absence of good governance, functional democracy, and people-oriented laws.

• Overpopulation, illiteracy, lack of skill-based education, unemployment, unequal access to assets, scarcity of capital and less investment, low agricultural productivity, and poor industrial base.

• Degraded environment, natural disasters, inadequate crisis -coping capacity of the poor.

• Finally, "our national crisis practically in every sphere of life reflects a deficit in vocational ethics" (Muzaffar Ahmed: 2008). Moreover, Material, spiritual and emotional resources are treated as prime causes of poverty.

Road Map for Poverty Alleviation

• To cater to the needs in post-pandemic days, it is needed to develop a homegrown pro-poor long-term multispectral poverty alleviation strategy, along with operational plans. A pro-poor growth process should be initiated to accelerate income growth among the poor, along with suitably attuned growth-oriented projects.

• Scholars and practitioners should come together to explore the nature of extreme poverty, and establish a comprehensive strategy for extreme poverty alleviation in Bangladesh.

• Establishing and maintaining a just Democratic Institution, and having good enough Governance in the public sector is critical to reducing the severity of poverty. Hence, integrated efforts of concerned are needed to have just Democratic Institution and Good enough Governance in the public sector. Moreover, establishing integrity in judiciary and public service. Law and judicial functions be done in a neutral perspective.

• Macroeconomic stability should be a means towards attaining the broader goal of inclusive development. A multidimensional innovative and competitive approach, in the economy, should ensure a basic protection floor for the poor and allow us to achieve a just society.

• With a view to empower the poor and to integrate them into the mainstream of society, steps to be taken for human capital formation are social mobilization, empowerment through education, fostering knowledge and skills, and focusing on technical education.

• To cater to the need in the change circumstances, we need Health Commission comprising mostly of public health specialists. Dynamic leadership, pro-poor strategies, and long-term plans and its proper execution in the health sector is highly needed, so that the long-standing shortcomings are rightly addressed.

• To get rid of Jobless Growth Syndrome: Tourism. Labor-intensive industries, diversified agriculture, and microcredit, social safety nets-based self-employment, non-farm activities, agro-based industries, and handloom industry should get preference. Policy and procedures for migrant workers should be more easy, transparent, and effective.

• Empowering women through education and appropriate technology. Women's priority in policymaking, in the labor market, and sharing of national income. To make post COVID recovery stronger, the Women Development Policy 2011should be implemented properly.

• To upgrade living standards and empower ethnic communities. We expect the government to pass an anti-discrimination law immediately, as recommended by the TIB and ensure its implementation.

• To address Economic Inequality the government should formulate an equity basis economic plan, and undertake some 'politically feasible' policy reforms in the areas of trade; tax; banking sectors; level of minimum wage; and ensure rational distribution of wealth.

• Microfinance sector needs to overcome the existing challenges to realize its full potential. Micro Credit Regulatory Authority should ensure legal framework, uniform policy, and procedures for all microcredit giving agencies.

• Existing social safety nets should be more inclusive, adaptive, and comprehensive. Reasonable investment is needed for building resilient livelihoods that are better able to withstand future shocks that will inevitably come.

• Climate change and its consequences destabilize the rate of poverty alleviation. Hence, nature-based climate action to be taken; major policy thrust would be needed for strengthening the coping mechanism of the poor.

For alleviating poverty existing vicious cycle of poverty has to be broken. The country needs a pragmatic and tangible step and the foresight of the nation's political leadership needs a more positive change for poverty reduction We should remember accountability of conscience and humanity, which can lead the nation to a new age by overcoming our moral and social degradation. The lessons of COVID -19 can be a gateway for radical changes in poverty reduction strategies.

Adopting a pro-poor long-term multispectral approach, in light of the above Road Map, is very likely to alleviate poverty from the country in a near future and establish a much cherished just Society.

M. Shamsul Islamis an Former Deputy Director BRDTI, Sylhet. Email shamsulislam.brdb@gmail.com