At present, the population of Bangladesh stands at 135 million.

The decline in fertility and increase in contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) have contributed to the decline in population growth.

UNFPA Representative Suneeta Mukherjee presented the report on The State of World Population 2004 at the National Press Club. The annual report is entitled 'The Cairo Consensus At Ten: Population, Reproductive Health And The Global Effort To End Poverty'.

"The population growth rate has come down to 1.48 percent from 2.17 in 1991. After a decade of plateaued total fertility rate (TFR), the rate has fallen from 3.3 to 3.00 percent, according to the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey 2004," said the report released globally.

The use of modern contraception in Bangladesh has gone up from 55 percent of couples in 1994 to 61 percent today. The CPR has also increased to 58.1 percent, up from 44.6 in 1994.

However, the maternal mortality rate is still high at 320 per 100,000 live births as of 2001, the report said.

Focussing on major obstacles different countries are facing, the report said maternal mortality is a crisis that does not get the attention it deserves because it is poor women who are suffering and dying. "No other health indicator shows such a glaring gap between rich and poor nations."

The unmet need for effective contraception in Bangladesh is estimated to be 11 percent.

The report called for mobilising political will and resources to make the 'Cairo Vision' a reality. It called on the governments to invest more in education, health and human rights of women and young people to ensure a more equitable and sustainable world.

"As the report explains, progress has been uneven. So much more needs to be done and the challenges we face are daunting," said Suneeta.

"Lack of resources is impeding further progress, and even as the needs continue to mount, the response of the international community has been woefully inadequate."

In Bangladesh, development partners such as DFID, Sida, Cida, and the World Bank are assisting the UNFPA to further the national cause, Suneeta said.

This year's State of World Population examines the progress countries have made in implementing the Cairo Agenda, the obstacles they have encountered and the needs that remain unmet.

Md Nurul Ameen, UNFPA assistant representative, Tajul Isalm, joint secretary of health ministry, and Dr Zahir Uddin Ahmed, director, family planning directorate, were also present.