This was sated by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday while briefing journalists at the secretariat on the eve of the World Population Day being observed today.

"With the current pace of growth, the size of total population in Bangladesh in 2020 is expected to stand at 17.20 crore, and 21 crore by 2060 from the current population size of close to 14 crore," he said.

Reading out a written statement, the minister said if the current growth rate continues, the population size of the World in 2050 would stand at 910 crore.

He said half of the World's population expansion is expected to take place in nine of the 50 developing countries including Bangladesh.

Giving emphasis on women's access to more information about their reproductive health, the minister said, "One of the major reasons for unwanted population growth in Bangladesh is the denial of right information and empowerment to women regarding minimum age for marriage, decision on the size of the family and birth spacing."

"Half of the population in Bangladesh are young people, and of them half are young girls. We would like to take this opportunity to address this group of young people and educate them about their rights on reproductive health," said Suneeta Mukherjee, Unfpa country representative to Bangladesh.

She said, "Equality benefits everyone. Where girls have equal opportunity to education, societies become more prosperous. Where women have equal access to income, assets and services, families become healthier. When both men and women are able to participate equally and exercise their full human rights, the world benefits."

Health Secretary A F M Sarwar Kamal, and Director General of Family Planning were present at the press briefing.

With the slogan 'equality empowers', this year's World Population Day focuses on gender equality, and how giving equal opportunities to girls and women can improve lives and societies.

The day also highlights four main areas of action: education, economic opportunity, reproductive health and rights, and participation.