Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikrom, today said population is one of the greatest assets of a country and Bangladesh must transform its population into human resources by utilising the opportunities of the demographic dividend.

“Development is not merely a change in economic indicators; it must ensure improvements in people’s quality of life,” he said.

The Speaker made the remarks while addressing a policy dialogue titled “Three Dividends, One Window: A Parliamentary Dialogue on Population and Development in Bangladesh” as the chief guest at the oath room of the Jatiya Sangsad.

The Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat organised the dialogue under the SPCPD project with technical assistance from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal MP chaired the programme, while Parliament Secretariat Secretary Barrister Md Golam Sorwar Bhuiyan delivered the welcome address.

The Speaker said the demographic, gender and longevity dividends remain interconnected and require coordinated policy planning.

“Formulating policies alone will not turn plans into reality. We also need legislation and reforms, effective use of budgets and accountability,” he said.

He urged members of parliament to implement policies in their respective constituencies and ensure development opportunities for every citizen.

“Women need access to education, older people need healthcare and young people need employment opportunities,” Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said.

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal said a large proportion of Bangladesh’s population comprises young people.

“If we can ensure skills development for the youth, we will have no reason to look back,” he said, stressing the need to combine the skills of young people with the experience of older citizens to advance the country.

He said elected representatives in a democratic country work at the policy level, adding that the government should prioritise developing skilled human resources and sending qualified workers abroad.

The speakers at the dialogue discussed the need for separate policy measures to harness the three distinct windows of economic opportunity emerging from changes in Bangladesh’s population structure.

The keynote discussions focused on “Bangladesh’s Demographic Opportunity: Potential, Time and Risks.”

Members of parliament, representatives of UNFPA and the SPCPD project, officials from the Ministry of Planning and senior officials of the Parliament Secretariat attended the programme.