Bangladesh is Marching Forward in population’s development by putting people’s empowerment at the heart of national development agenda : State Minister Zahid Maleque told at the UN

UsaNewsOnline.Com, New York : Bangladesh is Marching Forward in population’s development by putting people’s empowerment at the heart of national development agenda – said Zahid Maleque, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, in a country statement, made at the 50^th session of the Commission on Population and development (CPD) at UN Headquarters, 3 April.

Underscoring the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in realizing Development of various population issues, the state Minister said, “Bangladesh has made considerable progress in realizing Programme the International Conference of Population and Development (ICPD) of actions and Bangladesh aspires to join the ranks of middle income countries by 2021 and industrialized country by 2041”. He noted that the inclusive economic growth in Bangladesh has been over 6% for the past decade and more than 7% in the current year, resulted in impressive poverty reduction which is below 21% in the recent years.

It may be mentioned Hon’ble State Minister for Health and Family welfare is leading Bangladesh delegation at 50^th session of the Commission on Population and development (CPD) being held April 03-07, at UNHQ in New York.

In his statement, he enumerated the measures taken by the present government to ensure women’s empowerment, gender parity, girls education, youth development, employment generation, social security, wellbeing of elderly population and to protect girls from child marriage and malnutrition. The State Minister mentioned, “Our government has allocated the highest 17% of its national budget in education. We have ensured free education up to secondary level for all and achieved 100% enrollment in the primary level”.

 “Bangladesh has given also special attention to primary health care through about 8000 community clinic and union health center by providing free medicine and health counseling. All contiguous diseases like: diarrhea, cholera, AIDS, TB, etc. are under control. As a result, maternal mortality rate has gone down from 542 to 170, child mortality from 132 to 43; life expectancy has increased to 70years plus in the recent years” – the State Minister said.

Mentioning the contribution of about 10 million expatriate workers of Bangladesh State Minister Zahid Maleque reiterated, “Bangladesh acknowledges and attaches high importance to the contribution made by migrants and has been advocating for safe, regular and orderly migration at the international level.

Earlier today, in the morning, the State Minister delivered statement as chair of LDC group at the 50^th session of CPD at UN Headquarters where he urged the international community to provide enhanced support to the LDCs in their efforts to implement the Programme of Action of ICPD.