Observations on Population Policy and Population Program in Bangladesh

The demographic target of Bangladesh population program is reduction of the population growth rate from 3% per annum to 2.8% between FY75 and FY78 and plans envisage a sizable delivery system with emphasis on modern contraceptive technology. In terms of the largely peasant culture and poor economic conditions of the country capital investment will be high per births averted and the program will compete for goods already in short supply. Estimates of the potential demand for modern contraceptives may also be unrealistic; one survey found that while 62% of a sample population of Bangladesh wives reported knowledge of a program method of contraception only 3.7% were using any form of birth control. The scale and highly centralized character of current program organization inhibit efficiency. Quasi-automatic controls could be introduced through the imposition of user fees and decentralization would reduce the chain of command and increase supervisory efficiency particularly if local governments were given control over total program expenditures and internal allocation. Government policy promoting socioeconomic improvement is most likely to increase fertility control motivation. Incentive schemes concerning sterilization and family size could influence fertility behavior. Priority should be given to the promotion and acceptance of an indigenous political-economic leadership in each of 65000 villages of Bangladesh to establish a collective understanding of population growth as a factor in environmental conditions and quality.