A new report by the Planning Commission’s General Economics Division shows that 24.05% of Bangladesh’s population—approximately 39.77 million people—live in poverty. The highest poverty rate is in the hill district of Bandarban, while the lowest is in Jhenaidah. The data, however, is based on outdated metrics, raising questions about its current relevance. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures access to services rather than income alone. Economist Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury called this approach innovative and useful for identifying vulnerable populations, though more research is needed to understand regional disparities.