Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith yesterday said that government has set a target to reduce the rate of poverty by 1.6 to 1.8 percent a year through inclusive economy, reports UNB.

"The government's policy of poverty elimination is to reduce poverty rate 1.6 to 1.8percent every year. We have to lift people living under poverty line" the minister said while addressing at a seminar titled 'Development of Bangladesh Economy: Achievements and Potentialities'.

Finance minister said that the number of poor came down to 3.5 crore now from 4 crore in 2009, the years Awami League took office.

Muhith said currently less than 25 percent of the total population live below poverty line, which he hoped would come down to one percent by 2024.

Acknowledging the challenge of unemployment problem, the finance minister said that the government is creating five lakhs new job opportunities and adding five lakhs people in migrant workforce annually.

Notre Dame University Bangladesh (NDUB) organised the seminar at its campus.

Presided over by NDUB VC Professor Dr Father Patrick Daniel Gaffney, Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir and NDUB Economics Department Chairman Dr Md Azizur Rahman also spoke in the seminar.