INTRODUCTION
Socio-economic development for all citizens is the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s constitution. According to the articles 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the constitution, the state has the responsibility to ensure to its citizens certain basic needs such as health, education, food and security. In order to translate these constitutional goals into reality, the Government had undertaken a wide array of public policies. The Policy stands out as one of the most remarkable achievements of the government. Since 1976, this policy emphasis has been reflected in all successive 5-year plans and programs. The population of Bangladesh is likely to grow up to 172 million by the year 2020 and will stabilize at 210 million by the year 2060, even if replacement level fertility (i.e. Net Reproductive Rate-NRR=1) is achieved by the year 2010.

15 MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THE NATIONAL POPULATION POLICY:
The objectives of the National Population Policy are to improve the status of family planning, maternal and child health including reproductive health services and to improve the living standard of the people of Bangladesh through making a desirable balance between population and development in the context of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (IPRSP). The following major policy objectives will help address the future challenges: 1. Reduce Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and increase the use of family planning methods among eligible couples through raising awareness of family planning; 2. Attain NRR equal to one by the year 2010 so as to stabilize population around 2060; 3. Ensure adequate availability and access of Reproductive Health Services, specially family planning services to all including information, counseling and services for adolescents; 4. Improve maternal health with emphasis on reduction of maternal mortality; 5. Reduce RTIs/STIs and prevent spread of HIV/AIDS 6. Reduce infant and under five mortality rates; 7. Reduce maternal and child malnutrition; 8. Promote and actively support programs for elimination of gender disparity in education, health and nutrition; 9. Ensure Early Childhood Development (ECD) program; 10. Ensure and support gender equity and empower women; 11. Develop the human resource capacity of planners, managers and service providers, including improved data collection, research and dissemination; 12. Actively support measures to provide food and social security and shelter for the disadvantaged including the elderly, destitute, physically and mentally retarded persons; 13. Actively support measures to regulate and reduce rural to urban migration; 14. Support measures for environmental sustainability with emphasis on access to safe drinking water; 15. Support poverty alleviating strategies and conducive environment for improved quality of life;
NATURE AND SCOPE OF BANGLADESH POPULATION POLICY
To achieve the above objectives, following broad implementation strategies shall be adopted: 1. Service Oriented Strategies:
In order to address the problems of high fertility, mortality and morbidity, RH-FP services are critical and there is considerable scope for improvement in this area. Complications arising from unsafe abortions are also significant in Bangladesh. Some strategies proposed in this area are: * Provision for Maternal, child and reproductive health services through a comprehensive client centered approach at Upazila and Union levels. * Ensure full coverage of safe delivery through skilled birth attendants; * Support and ensure full coverage of child immunization. 2. Adolescent Welfare Services:
Adolescents constitute more than one-fifth of the total population in Bangladesh. One-fifth of the total births also occur among adolescent mothers. In fact, for the well-being of the adolescents following steps can be taken in collaboration with NGOs and community-based organizations: * Provide information and services, including counseling services aimed at (i) delaying age at marriage; (ii) delay in first birth as far as possible; (iii) adequate spacing between children and iv) improved access to reproductive health education and methods of preventing STIs, HIV/AIDS infection; * Provide formal and non-formal education to both in-school and out-of-school adolescent boys and girls; and 3. Gender Equity and Empowerment: In terms of gender equity and equality, women in Bangladesh are in a disadvantageous position. In order to ensure better gender balance, the following strategies call for urgent attention: * Formulate all programs, both Government and Non-Government conforming to gender sensitivity; * Improve participation of women in decision-making roles and income generating activities at national and local levels * Eliminate all forms of violence and sexual abuse, including trafficking of women and children; * Create equal opportunity for both boys and girls in education, nutrition and health services. 4. Population and Development Strategies:
As a multi-sectoral concern, population stabilization requires integration of demographic factors into the activities of health, education, women’s development, urbanization, housing, environment, poverty alleviation, elimination of social and economic disparities etc. Policies and strategies of these sectors have to be consistent with the goal of population stabilization and socio-economic development. There is a need to integrate population variables in the development plans and policies of all relevant ministries in order to make public policies more population focused. 5. Human Resources Development
In view of the importance of quality family planning, maternal and child health and reproductive health service delivery, population and development linkages and behavior change communication at all level of policies and programs, a large skilled workforce need to be created to sustain population activities within the framework of the population policy. 6. Decentralization of Population Policy Activities:
Decentralization and community involvement are essential in order to ensure that women, children and other vulnerable groups have adequate access to services. 7. Participation of NGOs and Private Sector:
The Government has the primary responsibility of policy making, planning, guidance and implementation of socio- economic development in respect of population. However, the NGOs and private sector are important partners of the Government in this endeavor. Hence, their active involvement in population activities at various levels is essential. 8. Building of Planned Family:
Accelerated increases in the size of population need to be contained in view of country’s limited resources. All out efforts should be taken to popularize and ingrain the slogan “not more than two, one child is better”. 9. Role of Doctor in Implementation of Population Policy: * The participation of doctors is necessary in ensuring the delivery of family planning and reproductive health services under the framework of the population policy. * Engage government and non-government doctors in reducing the incidences of RTI/STI and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS towards ensuring better reproductive health services; * Provide family planning services regularly along with maternal and child health services in all government and non-government health facilities. 10. Role of Different Ministries in Population Activities:
High rate of population growth and resultant increase in population size impede the process of achieving the objectives in various sectors of the economy. In this regard the relevant ministries and agencies will be able to play their respective role successfully within their ambit and framework. * Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shall be the lead Ministry for population and family welfare activities and responsible for overseeing family planning, maternal and child health and reproductive health care services. * Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and Ministry of Education in keeping with the Education Policy may ensure improved quality and completion of primary and secondary education levels. * Ministry of Agriculture is urged to introduce courses on population and health science education in its training institutes and colleges. * Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives may develop programs involving the Gram Sarker, Union Parishad, Upazilla Parishad, Zilla Parishad members and local elites to orient them in population and development activities. * Ministry of Planning/Planning Commission will be responsible for policy planning, integration of population variables in the relevant sectoral plans and programs. * Ministry of Environment and Forest in keeping with environment policy may pursue a policy to safeguard the natural environment, encourage people for tree plantation. * Ministry of Religious Affairs may be entrusted with the responsibility of orienting religious leaders and Imams on responsible parenthood, family planning, maternal and child health including reproductive health and prevention of STIs/RTIs, HIV/AIDS in the light of religious teachings.

CONCLUSION:
This policy responds to the critical need for a comprehensive Policy to deal with this complex national problem in a holistic way. It is also essential to build national consensus and synergy among institutions: public, private, civil society and NGOs. Factors that influence population stabilization efforts are affected by the works of several ministries such as Health and Familyb Welfare, Education, Labor and Employment, Social Welfare, Women and Children’s Affairs, Youth and Sports, Cultural Affairs, Local Government Rural Development and Co-operatives, Planning etc. The magnitude and the nature of the problem warrant no less than a well-coordinated population policy that has influence and generates responses from these ministries.

REFERENCE(S):
Census 2001. Preliminary Report, August 2001, Dhaka, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh: A National Strategy for Economic Growth, Poverty Reduction and Social Development, March 2003, Dhaka, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Projected Population Estimates, July 1995, Dhaka, Population Wing, Planning Commission
Bangladesh National Population Policy – An outline, June 1976, Dhaka, Population Control and Family Planning Department, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Census 2001 Preliminary Report, August 2001, Dhaka, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Population Policy Ministry. OCTOBER 2004. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka