Making the most of demographic dividend
Since 2007, we have enjoyed an upper hand called demographic dividend that will sustain up to 2040. Demographic dividend denotes a period of a country’s history during which it has more working age people than non-working age ones. Many countries in South Eastern Asia reaped the period by investing heavily in education and public health. Unless we make the most of this period, we will lose a great chance to prosper our economy. However, currently there are few signs that the government is taking any steps that are intended to use the demographic dividend properly.
Al Amin
University of Dhaka
Tackling human trafficking
Human traffickers in Bangladesh and India are capitalising on the ignorance of women and children in Bangladesh. Having been duped with promises of marriage or overseas jobs, many Bangladeshi women end up in Indian brothels. In Bangladesh, the authority’s lax approach in applying anti-trafficking laws and the lack of awareness in society have allowed human trafficking business to flourish. Not only women, many Bangladeshis have suffered inhuman torture by traffickers in the war-ravaged countries such as Libya or Thailand until a few years ago. It is high time to think deep into this issue. Strong regional cooperation is needed to tackle human trafficking.
Zubair Khaled Huq
By e-mail
