Demographic Dynamics in Bangladesh: Looking at the Larger Picture

Demographic Dynamics in Bangladesh : Looking at the Larger Picture is a compendium volume which includes studies prepared under the Centre for Policy Dialogue's (CPDs) programme on Population and Sustainable Development which was implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), during 1998-2002. The present volume focuses on two broad but related themes covering a wide spectrum of issues on population correlates which are of critical importance to Bangladesh. Part A of the present volume is titled Bangladesh Population Momentum, Consequences and Policy Implications and includes five chapters. It highlights the potential impact of the population momentum under various scenarios, analyses proximate determinants of fertility transition, reviews present and past population policies and programmes and examines the prospects of implementation of the current population policy. It also presents studies on the interface between such variables as population, economic growth and environmental degradation in the context of Bangladesh. Part B of the present volume is titled Population and Sustainable Development and includes seven chapters. This part covers a number of important issues in the area of urbanisation, migration and development, and focuses on some relevant variables which impact on their interrelationships. Studies included in this part make an assessment of the demand for education and related expenditure projections, undertake an analysis of the utilisation of public health care facilities, identify problems and offer suggestions as regards policy measures for female headed households and the elderly and present an analysis of underlying causes of environmental degradation. The studies came up with a number of policy recommendations in each of the abovementioned areas. It is hoped that this volume will benefit policy makers, academics, researchers and student who would like to be exposed to a variety of issues band debates which inform the policy discourse which inform the policy discourse in the area of population and sustainable development in present day Bangladesh.