Population control should be a priority

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POPULATION control, it seems, is not in the priority of the new government. The population of Bangladesh is expected to reach 280 million, or the double of what it is now, by 2080. The projection released on the last World Population Day is, indeed, worrisome. At its current rate of growth, Bangladesh would have a population of 180 million by 2020. So, population control poses a big challenge for the country.

The growing population burden, unless checked, could harm the economy in the long term. Prudence requires taking effective steps and immediately to keep the population at a desirable level. Otherwise, within decades, the growing population burden would neutralise the development efforts.

Shireen Haque

Dhanmondi, Dhaka.