World Population Day 2004 - Events

Check population boom at any cost
PM on World Population Day
UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday suggested massive and pragmatic efforts to achieve total success in population control and avert catastrophic effects stemmed from alarming population growth worldwide.

"We have to check population boom at any cost. Otherwise our efforts in development, progress, peace and prosperity will fail," she said, making a clarion call for all to rise to the occasion.

Khaleda Zia was addressing the inaugural session of the programme on World Population Day 2004 commemorating the 10th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre yesterday morning.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Post and Telecommu-nications Minister M Aminul Huq, UNFPA (The United Nations Population Fund) Representative in Bangladesh Suneeta Mukherjee, Executive Director of PPD Timothi Gandaho, Director General of Health Services Prof Mizanur Rahman and Director General of Family Planning Directorate Fazlur Rahman also spoke at the function presided over by Health Secretary AFM Sarwar Kamal.

The prime minister described this year's global campaign theme "Participation of Males and Empowerment of Women in Building Planned Family and Improving Mother and Child Health" as well timed.

She called upon the teachers, religious leaders, imams of mosques and the elite to come forward to raise awareness of family planning and seeking health services among the masses.

Khaleda said increased population would hinder the development and perpetuate the vicious cycle of poverty. Presently, Bangladesh has a population of over 13 crore with a growth rate of 1.48.

The prime minister underlined importance of educated mother who can present the nation with ideal citizens. She called upon the non-governmental organisations to inspire people to family planning.

She underlined the need for launching multidimensional and realistic programmes to provide women with ample opportunities for income generation and reproductive health services.