Bangladesh will observe World Population Day 2018 on Wednesday along with the world with a call to develop nations regarding family planning and population empowerment.
In 1989, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme recommended that July 11 be observed by the international community as World Population Day, a day to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues.
This year's theme – “Family planning is a human right” – aims at providing safe, voluntary family planning.
On the occasion, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque called upon everyone concerned to create awareness of the adolescent health and child marriage.
Speaking at a press conference at the Family Planning Bhaban in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar on Tuesday, he said: “Our government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received MDG [Millennium Development Goal] Award in 2010 for successfully reducing maternity mortality rate.”
He further said the government was committed to a new sustainable development agenda built on the principles of equity and human rights, and to achieve the target, adolescent healthcare is essential.
Zahid remarked that the government had been implementing different initiatives for providing advanced education to make them efficient citizens.
Elaborate programs have been chalked out by different organizations to mark the day.
The major event of the day will be held at the Osmani Memorial Hall in Dhaka at 10:30am, where Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury is expected to be present as chief guest.
A colourful procession will be brought out from in front of the National Museum at 8:30am to end at Osmani Memorial Hall after marching through major thoroughfares of the capital.
