Development of Population Policy in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh, being a country with a high population density, faces many significant population and development problems. The first population policy of Bangladesh was formulated in 1976 when the rate of population growth was approximately 3% per year. Since then Bangladesh has achieved remarkable success in lowering fertility to a medium level. From independence to present, Bangladesh's population policy has evolved in two distinct phases. The first phase lasted through 1997 and was guided by objectives and strategies outlined in the 1976 Population Policy. The second phase started in 1998 and has continued to the present. This stage is strongly influenced by the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 1994 (ICPD). This article describes the evolvement of the major population issues in Bangladesh and examines how the policies and programs are dealing with the issues and how the policies and programs can be improved to address emerging issues more effectively.