Bangladesh’s rural economy is going to be under pressure

[caption id="attachment_4827" align="aligncenter" width="1014"] File Photo[/caption] Bangladesh’s rural economy is going to be under pressure as a significant number of people from urban areas are returning to their respective villages, losing the sources of their income due to COVID-19, says several experts. Over 600,000 people used to go to abroad from Bangladesh. They’re now there in rural areas. Given the current situation, it can be said the economy is under huge pressure "The rural economy is unlikely to be able to absorb the pressure," former caretaker government finance adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam told. He said the agricultural sector, the driving force of the rural economy, is going to be overburdened with the returnees though the sector contributes 15 per cent to the GDP while provides 40 per cent jobs. Mirza Azizul Islam also said mechanised tools are being used for increasing productivity in the agricultural sector and their use is going up day by day, reducing the demand for farm workers. Distinguished Fellow of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) professor Mustafizur Rahman said the rural economy obviously will be under pressure. "This pressure will continue as long as the health risk, caused by the pandemic, is there. This is going to be a huge burden on the already slowed down rural economy.” Find more... Source: Online/SZK