Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury stressed the need for family planning to ensure women empowerment in the country.
“Family planning is a pre-requisite for sustainable development and it helps to ensure empowerment of woman in any country…. Small family will play a vital role in building a happy and prosperous nation,” she said. She said this on Wednesday while speaking at a discussion organised by the health ministry to mark the World Population Day-2018 at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city.
This year the theme of the Day is ‘Family Planning is a Human Right’. Dr Chaudhury called upon all concerned to create awareness about reproductive health, family planning, maternal and child healthcare services at the grassroots level.
Speaking on the occasion, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque said, “Family planning is a pre-condition to ensure progress in any country. Bangladesh needs to implement the family planning programme successfully to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Secretary of Health Education and Family Planning GM Saleh Uddin division presided over the programme while, Director General of Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Family Planning DG Dr Kazi Mustafa Sarwar, UNFPA country Representative Dr Asa Torkelsson, among others, addressed the programme.
The speakers urged private organisations, media, individuals and institutions to come forward in creating and disseminating family planning information alongside the government.
Earlier, Dr Chaudhury inaugurated the main programme of the Day by releasing pigeons and balloons. Later, she distributed awards and crests among reporters and other service providing organisations. The World Population Day is observed on July 11 every year to create awareness about population growth and related issues.
