Editorial
Population count
Disparity between reports could lead to inaccurate policies
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), the population of Bangladesh is 15.05 crore. This figure conflicts with that of the fifth national census conducted three months ago, in which the population was said to have been 14.23 crore. The final report of the census, which will be published in May of 2012 will determine precisely the exact figure, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
The disparity between the figures risks posing numerous problems. One problem is that of policy making and relating to issues of development. If accurate population data are unavailable, very significant problems involving the measurement of food production and food safety requirement can result. The amount of goods to be imported will also be impacted due to this issue. A further problem is that of an inaccurate calculation of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and per capita income.
Gender balance is also a crucial factor in charting out a sustainable development course.
The government needs to ensure that a sustainable population is maintained in the face of global population changes. Our development partners tend to base their assistance on the official census reports in allocating aid and grants. Our development partners lend credence to the UNPFA report. It is one more reason why we must have our census scientifically and properly done so that there is no hiatus between our head counts.
NGO programmes for poverty alleviation, securing rights for vulnerable women and children and advancing literary campaigns are reliant on accurate demographic statistics.
Therefore, the more accurate the population count is, the more beneficial it will be for the country in planning, policy making and implementing programs to ensure that the needs of all people in the country are met.
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