Poverty in Bangladesh has risen sharply, with 27.93% of the population now living below the poverty line, up from 18.7% in 2022, according to a new estimate by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC).

The study, released in Dhaka on Sunday at the LGED auditorium, also found that extreme poverty has climbed to 9.35% from 5.6% three years ago.

The findings contrast with the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) estimate, which puts poverty at 18.7% and extreme poverty at 5.6% in its 2022 Household Income and Expenditure Survey.

PPRC said its national-level survey aimed to capture the current realities of the economy, highlighting the growing pressure on low-income households amid inflation and limited job opportunities.