ABSTRACT

Bangladesh has achieved significant reductions in the incidence of poverty since independence in 1971. This chapter documents this record and surveys the literature explaining this substantial achievement. It argues that the spread of entrepreneurship, both in the economic and social spheres, has played an important role, complemented by government actions on the policy side. While the role of the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector in Bangladesh’s development has been the subject of some discussion, less attention has been paid to the synergy between these players. Yet, this synergy is an important part of the story of poverty reduction in Bangladesh and will be even more important as the country strives to eradicate poverty.