Life expectancy rises to 72 years: Minister

The average life expectancy of the Bangladeshi people has now reached to nearly 72 years, a minister said.

State minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malique told a press conference at the ministry conference room in the capital on Thursday. 

The conference was arranged to brief journalists about the ministry’s programmes in the upcoming World Health Day-2018.

The minister said the average life expectancy of the people was 65.5 years in 2000 and now it increased to 71.8 years.

He said that the rise was possible for various steps the government has taken in the last few years.

The minister said that the government is formulating the health safety act in the interests of the patients and the physicians and the draft of the act is now at the final stage, said the state minster.

Senior officials of the health minister were present at the conference.