Bangladesh MPs attend workshop on demographic dividend, SDGs

An orientation workshop for newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) in Bangladesh emphasized the critical role legislators play in harnessing the nation's demographic dividend and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Organized by the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat in partnership with the UNFPA, the event brought together lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties, alongside government officials and technical experts. Discussions centered on key areas such as maternal and reproductive health, population dynamics, gender equality, youth empowerment, and the prevention of child marriage.

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The future of Bangladesh will depend, to a large extent, on what steps this parliament takes for young people during this decade

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, in his opening remarks, underscored the central role of parliament in transforming policy ambitions into tangible legislative actions. He stated that the future of Bangladesh hinges significantly on the steps taken by the current parliament for its young people during this decade. "We must invest now in girls' education, family planning, reproductive health services and skills development for young people," Ahmad urged, adding that "some of these goals will require legislative support and parliamentary initiatives."

The workshop featured three thematic sessions co-delivered by MPs and UNFPA experts. Dr. M. Shahidul Islam, Chief of Demographic Data and Intelligence at UNFPA, presented Bangladesh's demographic outlook. He highlighted the country's unique opportunity to leverage its demographic, gender, and longevity dividends through strategic investments in young people, women's economic participation, and healthy aging. Barrister Kayser Kamal, deputy speaker of the parliament, chaired the event, which also included remarks from Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and Parliament Secretary Barrister Md. Golam Sorwar Bhuiyan.

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We must invest now in girls' education, family planning, reproductive health services and skills development for young people. At the same time, some of these goals will require legislative support and parliamentary initiatives