Increased population in Myanmar-Bangladesh border threatens poverty elimination

Over population in Myanmar-Bangladesh border area has been the main challenge to poverty elimination.

An aid worker working with one of the UN agency said assistance from the international organisations have been pouring into these areas for years but the community is unable to get themselves out of poverty because few want to take meaningful initiatives. “They don’t want to stand on their feet. The main point is population growth, ensuring unemployment and leading to crime,” said the officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to the statics of Maungdaw Township, there are nearly 470,000 people in Maungdaw and more than 270,000 in Buthidaung.

Maungdaw’s growing population more than other areas is a main barrier to the reduction of poverty. For that reason, land has become scarce to do the farming resulting in unemployment and crime. Our foundation is providing assistance and employment for the rehabilitation of villagers whose houses had been burnt down, Chairman Aung Kyaw Nyunt of Maungdaw District National Foundation said.

Source: Eleven Myanmar