Impact of Microcredit on Poverty Reduction in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Purpose: Usually, microcredit is known as the providing of “small loans” to the poorer group of the population although it differs from country to country. Many poor and hardcore poor people have been taken the microcredit to reduce their poverty.  This study aimed to detect the impact of microcredit on poverty reduction among different levels of poor people.    Methodology: Primary data were collected using cluster sampling from the 14 different slum areas from Sylhet city in Bangladesh (n= 408) based on a semi-structured questionnaire during October 2023 to December 2023. Descriptive statistical analysis and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to analyze the data.   Findings:  It was observed that among the participants 76% are male and 24% are female. Around 84.1% individuals were taking microcredit from the different NGOs and among them 91.6% got benefit from their loan and their income was increasing 14.6% as well.  It was also observed that 54.4% people are anxious about their food and 15.9% people are sleeping with hunger. Results also revealed that after taking microcredit the average percentage of hardcore poor people are significantly decreased compared with non-poor. It may indicate that after taking microcredit hardcore poor people invest their loan more appropriately compare to poor and non-poor groups of people.    Conclusions:  Taken together, we conclude that microcredit might play better role for hardcore poor people. To get more success of microcredit and hence for sustainable development- government and non-government organizations should pay more attention to reduce the interest rate of loans.