In Bangladesh, 68 percent of the population is capable of working and they are between 15-64 years.
If Bangladesh cannot use this workforce constructively, a large number of people will become a burden on the nation.
Experts say if the human resource is not used then people will pose a threat to national security.
According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the population of Bangladesh in 2017 is 161.75 million— 81 million male and females 80.75 million.
Child mortality has fallen by 22 percent and average life expectancy has gone up to 71.6 years. At present, literacy is 71 percent.
“Demographic dividend is an opportunity which has to be utilised,” AKM Nurunnabi, who heads the Population Sciences Department at Dhaka University told Bangla Tribune.
In the early years, after independence, most women did not work but in recent times, around 22 percent of people, mostly women, have joined the workforce, according to him.
“We now have 68 percent people who can work but they are not in employment because everyone is not getting jobs,” said Nurunnabi and added that this massive human force is needed to be converted into a productive work force.
The working capacity of the population will last only 30 to 35 years, he cautioned.
A BBS official says, “To make effective use of the manpower available, we must have a survey.”
The apparel industry employs a lot of foreigners, especially Sri Lankans and Indians are working, who remit a good amount of money from Bangladesh, he observed. “Once the local workforce is skilled, foreigners won’t be required.”
He also highlighted the need to create markets for workers and provide adequate training to those going abroad.
The official also alluded to the quota related movement, saying that this was indicative of a young generation faced with the threat of security.
“They want work, if they had enough employment opportunities then they would not have come to the streets with demands for the scrapping of the quota system.”
Meanwhile, BBS Director General Krishna Gayen said: “The government is taking all steps necessary to take the country forward.”
