Household incomes fell by 20pc due to Covid-19: Survey
Although the common household income declined by 20 percent because of Covid-19 fallout, the resumption of monetary activities helped lower the unemployment rate, according to a survey of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
The average monthly income of every household was Tk 19,425 in March which came right down to Tk 15,492 in August, the Perception Survey on Livelihood 2020 found.
Household expenditure fell by 6.14 percent during the period. The average expenditures of a family group were Tk 15,403 in March which came down to Tk 14,119 in August.
The report titled ‘Covid-19 Bangladesh: Perception Survey over Impacts on Livelihood’ was revealed at the meeting the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) held almost with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister and Planning Minister MA Mannan joined the meeting from Ganobhaban, while other Ecnec members were linked from the NEC Bhaban.
BBS completed the telephone-based survey on randomly selected 2,040 mobile amounts of four mobile operators. Some 48.48 percent (989 persons) taken care of immediately the survey questions through the weeklong survey conducted from September 13 to 19.
“This perception survey was completed in an exceedingly scientific and modern way,” the Planning Minister said while briefing reporters following the Ecnec meeting.
He said that although Covid-19 has already established an adverse effect on different sectors of the country, the agriculture sector had not been affected due to the pandemic.
After Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 7, the federal government took prompt measures to contain the virus’ spread by imposing restrictions on movement and turn off all non-essential businesses. This put millions out of job.
After months-long shutdown, the federal government little by little eased the restrictions and helped resume financial activities.
The survey findings showed that some two-thirds (68.39 pc) of the families experienced financial problems from April to July 2020 because of Covid-19 outbreak.
One-fifth households (21.33 percent) received government reliefs and assistance at that time. The monthly income of the families who received reliefs and assistance was Tk 20,000 or below, the analysis found.
Your day labourers were 8 percent in March, which came right down to 4 percent in July and again jumped to 7.5 percent in September, however the percentage of the agriculture-dependent households remained unchanged at 10 percent between March and July.
Based on the survey, the unemployment rate went up ten times as a result of fallout of the Covid-19.
It was 2.3 percent in March, which soared to 22.39 percent in July but again came down to 4 percent in September.
The percentage of businessmen declined 10 percent in July from 17 percent in March. Nonetheless it risen to 17 percent in September, based on the survey.
BBS carried out calling interview-based survey for the very first time.
Replying to a question, Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Md Yamin Chowdhury said the united states is gradually overcoming the shocks of COVID-19 due to resumption of economical activities.
