DHAKA, July 12, (v7n) – Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, today said Members of Parliament have a vital role to play in establishing a sustainable, discrimination-free, and human resource-based society.

He said the country's development could be further accelerated by bringing issues related to demographic transition, demographic dividend, and sustainable development into parliamentary discussions and formulating effective laws and policies. The Speaker made the remarks while addressing an orientation workshop titled "The Role of Parliament in Achieving Demographic Dividend, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Implementing the ICPD Commitments" as chief guest at the oath room of the Jatiya Sangsad.

The workshop was organised under the Strengthening Parliament's Capacity in Population and Development Issues (SPCPD) project. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal chaired the event, Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat Secretary Barrister Md Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan delivered the welcome address, and Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni, MP, spoke as special guest.

The Speaker said Bangladesh is now at a historic juncture and that the government's various initiatives would play an important role in implementing this year's World Population Day theme: "Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World." He stressed the need to transform the country's large youth population into skilled human resources so that the demographic dividend could be effectively utilised to accelerate socio-economic development.

Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said the formation of the Bangladesh Parliamentarians' Forum on Population and Development (BAPPD), with strategic support from UNFPA, would further strengthen lawmakers' role in legislating and formulating policies on population and development. He said incorporating issues such as preventing child marriage, strengthening law enforcement, ensuring adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, and achieving the demographic dividend into parliamentary committee activities would help attain desired goals more effectively.

The Speaker expressed hope that the SPCPD project would contribute meaningfully to achieving the SDGs, particularly in health, gender equality, youth development, and climate change.

Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni said Bangladesh is currently passing through a demographic phase where a large proportion of the population is young, making it imperative for lawmakers to play an active role at both national and local levels to convert the demographic dividend into economic prosperity. He noted that the demographic dividend is not automatic but the outcome of planned investment, and that ensuring quality education, technical skills, and improved healthcare for young people would create enormous opportunities—while failure could turn potential into challenges.

The Speaker and other speakers expressed deep condolences at the death of former Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar and prayed for his departed soul. MPs, UNFPA Bangladesh Country Representative, project director, and senior Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat officials were present.

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