Pursuing the two objectives

The 94 million or so above the poverty line in the population of Bangladesh form a vast market of consumers of varying purchasing power. Even the combined population of several major European countries would be smaller than this market size of Bangladesh. No wonder that producers of developed countries are eying this market for its present and future potential. Goldman Sachs, the very famous New York based investment banking firm has included Bangladesh in the short list of 11 countries to grow fast to join the list of the next most rapidly growing successful economies in the near future! Thus, there is no reason to be too pessimistic about the population size of Bangladesh. Only its current growth rate needs to be controlled better. Well implemented policies are also needed to turn its people into skilled resources progressively. The twin objectives will have to be essentially pursued by all governments in Bangladesh from now on. Greatest stress will need to be paid also to disseminate productive, need-based, technical education among the greatest number in the population through increased governmental programmes. This way of turning resources out of the overwhelming numbers in Bangladesh was recommended by the builder of modern Malaysia, Dr Mahathir Mohammad, in a recent function at Kuala Lumpur which was reported extensively in the Bangladesh media. M A Kaiser Nilkhet, Dhaka.