President calls for transforming population into productive human resources

President Mohammed Shahabuddin today called upon all concerned to transform the country's population into productive human resources to make the best use of the demographic dividend.

"Around one-third of the country's total population is young, and this huge working-age population is the country's greatest potential. We must transform the youth into skilled human resources. If we fail to do so, this potential may eventually become a cause of unemployment, poverty, social instability and economic pressure," he said. 

The President made the remarks while delivering the chief guest's speech at a programme on the occasion of World Population Day 2026 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here this afternoon.

Stressing the need for building a skilled population through quality education and training on a priority basis, the President said, "Quality and planned population is the prime asset and strength of a country. On the other hand, an unplanned and incompetent population is a major challenge for a country."

The President also recalled the contributions of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia to family planning, population control and preventing a population explosion.

Mentioning Begum Khaleda Zia's contribution, he said, "She introduced extensive programmes to increase women's participation in education, which resulted in a decline in child marriage, increased awareness and employment opportunities for women, and a rise in the tendency to adopt family planning." 

The President said in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the global economy and labour market are changing rapidly.

"To keep pace with the global transformation, we must enrich ourselves with science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), technical and vocational education, research and innovative skills," he said.

To enable youths to meet both domestic and global labour market demands, he stressed the need for ensuring quality education, modern technological and technical skills, improved healthcare services and sustainable employment opportunities. 

Describing country's progress in family planning, he said, "Bangladesh has achieved significant progress in family planning, maternal health, reducing child mortality and various public health indicators."

"The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in the country has remained almost at 2.3 over the past one and a half decades. And recent surveys found that the TFR is rising. To ensure long-term population stability, it is essential to bring the rate closer to two," he said. 

The President identified several key population-related challenges, including redesigning family planning programmes to better reach less educated and disadvantaged families, and ensuring education and healthcare services for adolescents to help prevent child marriage.

He called on all stakeholders to ensure the implementation of the government's initiatives "health for all" and "no death without treatment" to build a skilled and competent population.

He reassured that the government is committed to making the best use of the demographic dividend by providing the youth with quality education, training, proper health services and nutrition.

Urging the prioritization of youth aspirations, he said, "The young generation wants to see a happy, prosperous, inequality-free, justice-based and promising Bangladesh."

He added that the youth expect a society where merit, competence and hard work would be properly valued, good governance would be established, equal employment opportunities would be created, and every citizen would be guaranteed dignity and justice. 

The President also praised the government's initiatives to build a healthy population by taking the health services to the people's doorsteps.

"I warmly welcome the decision of the government to install the dialysis facilities in upazila health complexes," he said. 

Earlier, the President handed over crests and certificates to the institutions and people who contributed at the grassroots level of the health sector. 

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr M A Muhit, Health Services Division Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury and UNFPA-Bangladesh Representative Catherine Breen Kamkong, among others, were present at the programme.