Dhaka: Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad emphasized the crucial need for ensuring equal participation of both women and men in Bangladesh's development process, noting that one of the major challenges for the country is transforming its population into human resources. "Women and men have equal roles in making the most of the demographic dividend. We must ensure their equal participation in the development process," he stated during a workshop titled 'Parliament's Role in Realizing Population Dividends, SDGs and ICPD Commitments'. The event took place at the Parliament's Oath Hall and was organized by the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat under the SPCPD project.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Hafiz Uddin highlighted the opportunities presented by Bangladesh's demographic dividend, stressing the importance of developing the country's large population into skilled and productive human resources. However, he also pointed out several challenges that need to be addressed, including child marriage, gender-based violence, girls' education, and violence against women. Additionally, he remarked on the emerging challenges posed by climate change, such as rising sea levels and increasing salinity in coastal areas. The Speaker called upon Members of Parliament to raise public awareness in their constituencies and to initiate development efforts to tackle these issues, particularly emphasizing the prevention of violence against women.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal, who chaired the workshop, stated that Bangladesh's population should be seen as more than mere numbers. He highlighted the importance of providing education and employment opportunities to transform the population into valuable human resources. Kamal underscored the necessity of coordinated planning and effective measures to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, suggesting that parliamentary activities extend beyond lawmaking to include strategies aimed at solving people's problems.
Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni added that economic prosperity cannot be guaranteed by natural resources alone. He emphasized the value of a skilled and educated population, advocating for learning from other countries' experiences to convert Bangladesh's large working-age population into skilled human resources. Moni concluded by stating that a skilled, educated, and productive population is essential for sustainable economic development.
UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh Catherine Breen Kamkong acknowledged the government's collaboration with development partners in creating people-centered policies addressing climate change, reproductive health protection for adolescents, and social protection for the population. The workshop also featured speeches by Parliament Secretariat Secretary Barrister Md Golam Sorwar Bhuiyan, alongside other senior officials and representatives from UNFPA and the SPCPD project. The event was attended by members of the Cabinet, whips, MPs, and senior officials of the Parliament Secretariat.