Desk Report:
Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has said that MPs have an important role in establishing a sustainable, non-discriminatory and human resource-centered society under the Strengthening Parliaments Capacity in Population and Development Issues (SPCPD) project. He said that it is an important issue to bring the issue of population transformation to the parliament for discussion.
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at an awareness workshop titled ‘Parliament’s Role in Realising Population Dividends, SDGs and ICPD Commitments’ under the SPCPD project at the oath-taking hall of the National Parliament on Sunday (July 12, 2026).
The event was chaired by Barrister Kaiser Kamal, MP, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Bangladesh, and welcomed by Barrister Md. Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan, Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat, and Md. Nurul Islam Moni, MP, Chief Whip of the National Assembly of Bangladesh, as the special guest.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram said that Bangladesh is standing at a historic moment. The implementation of the local theme of World Population Day, ‘Let’s implement the hopes and aspirations of the youth, build a beautiful future with today’ depends on the steps taken by the government. He said that the demographic dividend should be utilized through the development of the youth.
The Speaker said that the formation of this forum of members of the National Assembly (BAPPD) with the strategic support of UNFPA Bangladesh will play a key role in determining laws and policies. Under this, the implementation of the target will be easier by including issues such as prevention of child marriage and strengthening the law, adolescent reproductive health and rights, demographic dividend or achieving demographic dividend in the relevant parliamentary committees. He expressed hope that this project will work to implement the goals related to health, gender equality, youth development and climate change.
Chief Whip of the National Parliament of Bangladesh Md. Nurul Islam Moni, MP said that Bangladesh is currently going through an important demographic period, where a large part of our population is young. To convert this demographic dividend or ‘demographic dividend’ into economic prosperity, members of parliament will have to play an active role at the policy-making and local levels. He mentioned in his speech that the demographic dividend is not an automatic achievement, but rather it is the result of planned investment. He said, “If we can provide quality education, technical skills and improved healthcare to the young generation, then only it will bring great opportunities for our economy. Otherwise it can become a social and economic challenge.”
The Speaker and other speakers expressed their condolences on the death of former Speaker of the National Assembly Barrister Zamir Uddin Sarkar and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
Members of Parliament, UNFPA Country Representative, Project Director and concerned officials of the National Assembly Secretariat were present at the event.
