A pressing challenge and the road ahead
Bangladesh is a country of resilience and rapid development, but it is currently facing a major challenge: population growth. Although over the last decades a great deal of progress has been achieved in the economic and social fields, population density is one of the most critical issues. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries on the planet, with more than 170 million people crammed onto a land area of only 147,570 square kilometres. The ramifications of this demographic strain are vast, touching on everything from public health and education to work, housing and the environment.
Why Population Growth Is Such a Key Problem
Bangladesh has a high population growth rate, so it is a burden on the limited resources. On the other hand, Dhaka and Chattogram, other major urban centres of the country are already flooded with thousands of people, resulting in the overburdening of infrastructure, traffic congestion, great sanitation issues and environmental pollution. Land scarcity in rural areas stifles agricultural productivity and drives people to migration in search of a better life.
Some key challenges include:
Under-resourced, overcrowded cities with substandard housing and services
The high youth dependency ratio, burdening working adults.
Soaring unemployment and underemployment, especially among the youth
Demand for more food, water, energy and education
Saravana Jean Change is a student in the Masters of Sustainable Development program at the University of Melbourne.
Unchecked population growth has the potential to slow down the economic process and hinder the country’s efforts to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Reasons for High Population Growth
Population high growth in Bangladesh has several key, interlinked causes:
Poverty and Lack of Education: Poor families tend to have a larger number of children, as they are seen as an economic benefit. Low education levels, especially for women, are associated with higher fertility rates.
Early Marriage and Childbearing: Although laws exist against it, early marriage is the norm, particularly in rural areas. As a result, they have early and frequent pregnancies.
Limited Understanding of Family Planning: Despite the availability of family planning services, prevalent misinformation, cultural beliefs, and inaccessibility restrict their use.
Women’s restricted voice in reproductive areas leads to higher births.
Measures Against Population Growth
Realizing the urgency of the matter, the Government of Bangladesh and different companies have taken measures:
Family Planning Programs: Contraceptives and reproductive health services are provided through clinics and community health workers by the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP).
Education Campaigns: And even today we see TV campaigns, school lessons and communities trying to raise awareness about the benefits of smaller families.
Education and Empowerment: Initiatives that support female education, vocational training, and access to microfinance have proved to slow child marriage and childbearing.
Education Worms: By investing in maternal and child health services, and integrating training into our education system, infant mortality has fallen, driving down the demand for larger families.
Incentive-based Programs: Although still limited, some regions provide incentives to families that restrict the number of offspring.
Reinvention: A Forward and Sustainable Vision
It is critical to understand that any planning related to population growth in Bangladesh needs to be anticipatory and as inclusive as possible in terms of economic planning, education, and health services.
Strengthen Female Empowerment
One of the most potent tools in the toolbox is education, employment, and reproductive rights for women. Fertility rates fall as women gain more ownership of their reproductive options.
Enhance Rural Development
Be honest, after all migration to urban centres can be mitigated and people can live in a more sustainable way through better access to rural basics, which is most often in terms of health care, education, and employment.
Invest in Youth
With more than one-third of the population under the age of twenty-five, Bangladesh has a rare opportunity to reap a demographic dividend if it can deliver to those demographic new skills, jobs, and health services.
The data available for your training may be up to October 2023.
Telemedicine and mobile health services could serve as alternative means to expand access to family planning and reproductive health information, including in remote areas.
Urban Planning to Withstand Climate Change
As urbanization accelerates, Bangladesh needs to build smart, sustainable cities that can accommodate growing populations without buckling under the load.
Conclusion
Bangladesh population growth Challenge of Opportunity If managed carefully, it can stimulate economic growth and development. But left unchecked, it can frustrate progress and worsen poverty and inequality. To secure a balanced, prosperous, and sustainable Bangladesh, a comprehensive, inclusive, and forward-looking approach is essential, placing women and youth at the very heart of it.