Why has such a vital institution been left non-functional for so long?

There was a time when family-planning slogans echoed across Bangladesh, on television screens, in newspaper pages, and at village doorsteps.

A new United Nations report shows that Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, has become the world’s most populous city with 41.9 million people, while Bangladesh’s Dhaka ranks second with a population of 36.6 million (3.66 crore).

Rapid population growth is also reducing the availability of capital per person and limiting access to essential services such as housing, sanitation, healthcare, and employment.

Rice is at the heart of Bangladesh’s economy, culture, and food system.

The population size will likely stabilise at around 240-250 million, if fertility can be brought down soon to below replacement level.