Bangladesh is now Asia’s fifth and the world’s eighth most populous country with an estimated population of about 151.41 million (BBS 2010: Projection for 2011). The growth rate of the population has fallen from 3% per annum at the first five year plan (1973-78) to about 1.39% p.a. in 2009 (BBS 2010). The population is expected to grow by another 40% by mid century, to 222 million, and finally stabilize around 240 million several decades after that. The rural population, currently about 73% will cease growing at around 140 million by 2025, mainly due to rural to urban migration, but the urban population will continuously grow. The urban population is currently made up of one third slums, and two-thirds non-slums, but the slums are growing at twice the rate (5% p.a.) than the overall urban growth rate (2.5% p.a.), meaning that the slums will account for a rapidly increasing proportion of urban dwellers.

Bangladesh has achieved success in family planning programs against the backdrop of low literacy rate, low status of women, low income and so on. Despite this, one must note that due to past high fertility and falling mortality rates, Bangladesh’s population has a tremendous growth potential built into its age structure. So, population continues to remain as the most pressing challenge towards development as well as one of the major causes of poverty in Bangladesh. The Government has recognized that a massive population --- > Read More