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despite recent progress in bangladesh in the areas of poverty and human development indicators such as literacy and life expectancy, inequalities in income and consumption rates have increased, with 32% of the population living below the poverty line.

bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries; the size of illinois, bangladesh has a population of 156 million people, half the population of the united states. despite recent progress out of poverty and increasing human development indicators such as literacy and life expectancy, inequalities in income and consumption rates have increased (undp 2005). 32% of the population lives below the national poverty line, most of whom are women and children. the prevalence of child (under 5) malnutrition is 33%, one of the highest in the world.

the disproportionate poverty faced by women and girls comes as a result of discrimination and exclusion within bangladeshi society, struggling to establish their rights and influence in decision-making processes. traditional practices such as dowries, child marriages and the relegation of being last to eat have created a demeaning and dangerous sociopolitical context for girls and women. (world vision, 2014)