Population boom
Photo: Adnan / driknews
According to a UN study, Bangladesh's total population now exceeds 160 million bringing forth one newborn baby in every 11 seconds. The density of population in Bangladesh is now four times higher than India and eight times higher than China. According to press briefing by the Project Director of Population Science Department of Dhaka University, the increased population is causing massive pressure on limited resources and reducing the per capita wealth. The country's population is increasing by two million every year with a projection of reaching 220 million by 2021. About 30 percent of the total population of the country is below 15 years, which is very alarming due to the fact that this section of population will gradually enter into the reproductive age. Increased population is not only putting pressure on cultivable land but also on other productive and service sectors including housing, education, health and nutritious food. The Project Director suggested considering the increased population as a ''demographic bonus'' and called for special attention for their education and training to build the section as human resources. Special measures should be taken from the highest level for efficient management of the population. The decision of the government to promote the two- child norm is a step in the right direction to check population explosion. There has been a differential growth in Bangladesh's population. The high fertility rate among rural families and among certain communities in both rural and urban areas should be brought down in the interest of the social and economic development of the country.
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