They underscored the need for allocating a chunk of money from the national exchequer to ensure better education, healthcare services and housing facilities for the poor who constitute majority of the urban population.

The seminar tilted 'Informal economy and urban poverty' was organised by Bangladesh Grameen O Nagar Daridra Federation (BGND) and Nagorik Uddog at the National Press Club in the city.

Dr Rita Afsar of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies presented a keynote paper at the programme.

Citing a World Bank Study she said 54 percent of poor male and female of the capital are engaged in informal sector that includes construction, transport and communication, domestic services and petty business.

She suggested training for the people engaged in informal sector to improve their skill, management and marketing capacity.

There should also be provisions for easy bank loans for them, she added.

Dr Rita said there should be specific locations for hawkers and vendors in the city where they can gather and sell their products freely without undue interruptions and hassles from any quarter.

Under the social safety net there might be provisions for health insurance or pension insurance for the poor people who would pay Tk 10 per month for the scheme, she observed.

Khushi Kabir, chief coordinator of Nijera Kori, said poverty level in the cities is worsening day by day as poorer section of villages are rushing to the cities.

If steps are not taken right now, things would get worse in future, she cautioned.

Labour leader Nurul Islam lamented that successive governments did not take any step for the development of people from lower strata of the society.

BGND President MA Zaman chaired the programme where its General Secretary Abul Hossain, Executive Director of Nagorik Uddog Zakir Hossain and Syed Sultan Ahmed of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies also spoke.