Population In Bangladesh : A Prospect or a Problem

               Population In Bangladesh : A Prospect or a Problem

  

The population in Bangladesh can be viewed both as a prospect and a challenge, and the perspective often depends on the context and how it is managed. Let's explore both aspects:

Prospects:

Demographic Dividend: With a significant portion of the population being young, Bangladesh has the potential to benefit from a demographic dividend. This occurs when there is a large working-age population relative to the dependent young and elderly population, potentially leading to increased economic productivity.

Labor Force: The large population can provide a substantial labor force, contributing to economic growth and development. Properly harnessed, this workforce can drive various sectors, including manufacturing, services, and technology.

Market Potential: A sizable population can create a substantial domestic market for goods and services. This can attract investments and stimulate economic activities, fostering entrepreneurship and business development.

Cultural Diversity: The diverse population in Bangladesh contributes to a rich cultural tapestry. This diversity can be an asset, promoting inclusivity, tolerance, and a variety of perspectives.

Global Presence: With a large population, Bangladesh has the potential to exert influence on the global stage. This influence may be economic, cultural, or diplomatic.

Problems:

Population Density: Bangladesh faces challenges due to its high population density, which puts immense pressure on resources, infrastructure, and the environment. This can lead to issues such as overcrowding, strained public services, and environmental degradation.

Resource Strain: The rapid population growth puts stress on resources such as land, water, and food. This strain can lead to challenges in ensuring food security, sustainable agriculture, and access to clean water.

Employment Challenges: While a large labor force is a potential asset, it can become a challenge if the economy cannot generate enough jobs to absorb the growing workforce. This can result in unemployment and underemployment.

Health and Education Services: Providing adequate healthcare and education services for a large population is a significant challenge. Ensuring access to quality services for all citizens becomes more difficult as the population grows.

Urbanization Pressures: The large population contributes to rapid urbanization, leading to challenges such as inadequate housing, insufficient infrastructure, and environmental pollution.

Efforts by the government, NGOs, and international organizations to address these challenges include family planning initiatives, education programs, and sustainable development projects. Balancing the demographic dividend with effective population management is crucial for ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for Bangladesh.

In some underdeveloped countries, the population may help in the economic progress of the country by providing cheap and abundant labor.

It can also expand market which necessitates effective demand. In Bangladesh, population is increasing at an alarming rate. It is a great menace to our economic growth. but the birth rate has continued to remain more or less stationary. A high birth-rate accompanied by a low death-rate cannot adjust population to the means of living.

In Bangladesh, food supply is inadequate, and one-third of the population are underfed.

The explosive rate of growth of population has also greatly aggravated the unemployment problem in Bangladesh. Unemployment and under-employment in rural and urban areas are a serious headache for the economic planners. Unemployed people do not make any addition to the production. But they have to be fed by the community all the time. The natural resources are not harnessed.

One of the far-reaching results of the ever increasing population is that it reduces the saving and in vestment of the country. The average annual per capita income is very low. The purchasing power of the people is extremely poor. The national income leaves no margin for saving.

There is also high proportion of unproductive population. In 1961, 57 percent of the population were unproductive consumers. In 1991, this percentage has gone up to 62.4 percent.

The growth of population also affects the standard of living of the people. In Bangladesh, one-third of the people  live below the subsistence level.

Women in Bangladesh do not participate in the productive activity for a long time due to frequent maternity.

Hence, the growth of population adversely affects the pace of economic progress in Bangladesh. The population pressure worsens the unemployment problems, keeps down the per capita real income and the country's national income, aggravates the supply or food grains and also militates against capital formation.

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