Govt faces 3 challenges in population sector

The government faces three challenges in the population sector as the birth rate in the country is not falling and the number of old people is increasing, experts have warned.

They also said the increased number of youth has to be utilised fully.

"We have a huge number of young people. Youths have to be utilised properly for the economic development," economist Wahiduddin Ahmed told Prothom Alo.

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in the country remains static for the last seven years due to weakness of the family planning services.

Bangladesh, however, achieved success in controlling population by reducing the TFR.

Professor of population sciences at Dhaka University, Mohammad Mainul Islam said fertile couples are not getting quality family-planning services.

The rate of birth control method is not increasing, especially among the young aged married girls, he added.

Social welfare and research institute’s professor at Dhaka University, Atiqur Rahman said there is a big challenge to ensure social status, security and health services of old people in future.

Fertility rate remains stalled

The TFR stood at 6.3 during the independence of the country. This means married women, aged between 15 and 49, gave birth to more than six children on an average. Since 1980 to the first decade of the 21st century, the TFR decreased for successful family planning services.

According to BDHS (Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey), TFR stands at 2.3 till 2017 since 2011. This means fertile women are giving birth to more than two children.

State minister for health and family welfare Murad Hossain, however, claimed Bangladesh has been more successful than many other countries in reducing the TFR.

“The government is aware so that Bangladesh does not get into trouble in future," he said.

According to the government statistics, over two million people are added to the existing population annually. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report (2019) states the population of Bangladesh is about 170 million. Over the last 50 years, the population has increased by 105 million.

The UNFPA also says Bangladesh is the mostly densely populated country in the world. Over 1,015 people live per square kilometre here.

Decreasing quality of services

The family welfare visitors (FWV) are the junior most officials at field level. There are 23,500 positions for this post at the family planning department. Around 5,000 posts remain vacant.

There are women and child welfare centres in 62 districts and 10 upazilas. There are two specialised institutions of family planning and mother care in Dhaka. The department of family planning centrally takes care of the family planning services throughout the country.

One-fifth of the positions of the directorate remains vacant. "It's not possible to render standard services with so many vacant posts”, said director general Kazi Mustafa Sarwar.

The directorate, however, has taken initiative to fill up the vacant posts, he said adding that, discussions are going on with the local government ministry to offer services at urban areas.

Though the government officials do not visit houses in the urban areas, several NGOs under a government project, offer the services for urban people. Employees of these NGOs visit the slum dwellers too.

According to a survey of the National Institute for Population Research and Training (NIPORT), services are not available as per demand at 78 per cent healthcare centres. The centres also lacked efficient employees, modern birth control materials and blood pressure measurement equipments.

The survey says one-third of the government hospitals and three-fourth of the private clinics or hospitals, at district and upazila level, do not supply birth control materials to married couple.

Field level family planning workers do not visit 80 per cent newly married couple. The crisis of field level workers is very acute.

Child marriage and adolescent maternity are main obstacle to birth control both in rural and urban areas.

Referring to a survey of the BDHS in 1917, population expert Mainul Islam said 60 per cent of the girls under 18 are being married off and only half of them are using birth control method.

Opportunities being lost

The age structure of the people has been changed due to the fall of TFR and the rise of average age. According to population census of 2011, about two third of the population is between 15 and 60 years of old. In perspective of the retirement age of the government and private services, people aged up to 60 years are considered able to work. Around 27 per cent of the population is under 15 and eight per cent is over 60 years. Only one third of the population is dependants.

According to demographers and economists, this situation is a great opportunity for the development of Bangladesh. It is not being utilized properly.

According to the national population policy said 25 ministries have to be engaged to turn population into human resources. National Population Council monitors the implementation of population policy. The council, however, did not arrange meetings for last nine years. Professor Mainul Islam said it is important to hold meetings.

Youths between 15 and 29 years of old are very prospective. The number of this group is around 50 million. Unemployment among this section is increasing. In 2017, the unemployment rate of this section was 11 per cent.

Former adviser to the caretaker government Wahiduddin Mahmud told Prothom Alo that this section of people is naturally beneficial to the economy. “The benefit would be higher if we can utilize in a planned way. Majority of the youth groups does not get education and training.”

This economist said the entry of female to labour market increased in the nineties. But a suitable environment has not been created for them. Service and IT sectors will flourish in future. The youth force has to be educated and trained on those sectors.

No body to take care of old people

Average age of people was forty eight years fifty years ago. It increased to 61 in 1994. Now it is 73 years.

In perspective of the retirement age, people above 60 years are considered old. They are about 15 million. As per prediction of UN population department, the number will be 20 million in 2025 and 40 million in 2050. They count one fifth of total population.

According to more than one research, there are changes in disease. Cancer, heart disease, kidney problem, high blood pressure and diabetics cause two thirds of the deaths. The old people are affected by these diseases.

Social services department director general Gazi Mohammad Nurul Kabir said the government is very kind and aware of the old people. Around 40 million old people are given allowance under the old age programme. Besides, the government has formulated the old age policy and the Maintenance of the Parents Act and finalized a draft act for the development of old people. There is ‘Shanti Nibash’ for living old people in six districts.

Government officials and demographers said there are three types of challenge for old people. Old people face health complications with the increase of age and they have no earnings. All of these people do not get support from their families. A section of these people especially women die without treatment due to financial crisis.

Professor Atiqur Rahman has worked on old people for long.

“Old people need special nursing. Health centres have to be established to deliver service and treatment for them. Plans and allocations are necessary to help them financially and socially,” he told Prothom Alo.

Economist Wahiduddin Mahmud said the opportunity of the working-age population will remain a few years more. Later, the number of old people will increase. So the birth rate has to be reduced and the youth population has to be utilized properly. It is very urgent to invest and formulate policy for old people.

*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam and Nusrat Nowrin.