Population Explosion & Bangladesh

The population of Bangladesh could double to 250 million by 2050 if the current growth rate of two percent a year continues. According to a 2001 population census, the population of Bangladesh was 123. 1 million with a density of 834 people per square kilometre.

By the end of this year, the projected population will be 146.7 million, according to the State of the World Population 2003 released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The report said Bangladesh had achieved success in controlling the total fertility rate despite the high growth rate.While the fertility rate had been steady at 3.46 percent for the last few years, it added births per 1,000 women aged between 15-19 in Bangladesh were higher than other countries in the region.

The report said the world population will jump from 6.3 billion to 8.9 billion by 2050, with most of the rise coming from developing and less developed countries.Nearly half the world population is under the age of 25 years and 20 percent are adolescents in the 10-19 age group, according to UNFPA country representative in Bangladesh, Suneeta Mukherjee.

Mukherjee said the population projection was a "wake-up call" for everyone to listen to young people and make more funds available to deal with their problems.

The Government recognizes population concerns as an integral part of its overall development policy. The population growth rate has been steadily declining since the mid-1970s, and the current population growth rate is high (though an estimate of 1.48 per cent has been recently suggested by the 2000 Census). However, despite a rise in the use of contraceptives from 45 per cent in 1994 to 54 per cent in 2000, the total fertility rate (TFR) has remained almost constant, at about 3.8 children per woman. Aside from the TFR, pressing concerns include diversifying the contraceptive method mix, ensuring safe deliveries and improving the quality of care. The Government strongly desires to reduce the population growth rate, with a view towards ensuring sustainable socio-economic development and reducing poverty. To this end the Government has finalized a Population Policy, which is expected to be approved soon.

The Government is focusing on carrying out behavioural change communication efforts, promoting a wider choice of contraceptives, addressing adolescent fertility, promoting gender equity and equality, and greatly improving access to maternal and emergency obstetric care services. Eleven ministries, one private-sector organization, a university, and City Corporations (Municipalities) are involved in the process of integrating reproductive health and gender concerns into social development efforts.

The United Nations Country Team has initiated joint programming in three areas: girls’ education, safe motherhood (with UNFPA playing a leading role) and poverty reduction. The first Health and Population Sector Programme began in 1998. It will be followed by a second one starting in mid-2003, which will incorporate the findings of the sex-disaggregated data of the 2001 population census to improve gender-sensitive policies and programmes. The Government is placing increased attention on maintaining contraceptive security, including emergency contraception, and introducing female condoms. Adolescent fertility and HIV/AIDS have both become major causes of concern over the past two years, and the country has instituted aggressive programmes to address both.