Bargaining with Poverty: An Empirical Review on Some Rural Women in Bangladesh

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to explore a selection of initiatives being used to address the poverty being experienced by some of the most marginalized communities in Bangladesh. The paper demonstrates that concerns relating to impoverishment can be challenged by the advancement of microloans offered by NGOs, alternatively known as group based lending programs. It also aims to analyze the effectiveness of microloans in transforming the lives of marginalized women and bridging the gender gap that currently exists in rural Bangladesh. Both primary and secondary data have been collected to meet the fundamental needs of the current study. The findings of the study suggest that irrespective of some reported limitations, in certain circumstances microfinance programs have had a positive impact and have increased women’s economic independence and their position in society.