The risk of a child dying before the age of 12 months or during delivery is still high in the country, said Harry Jooseery, executive director of Partners in Population and Development (PPD), at the inaugural session.

He also stressed the need to improve the quality of healthcare services and strengthen the gender-based programme.

The PPD organised the six-day meeting titled 'Consultation on capacity-building and strategic policy development' at a city hotel.

Speaking as the chief guest, Health Adviser Maj Gen (retd) ASM Matiur Rahman said the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has been 3.2 per thousand for a long time, whereas the rate should be reduced to less than 2 per thousand.

"At present, the contraceptive prevalence rate is 57 percent, but the figure should go up to 72 percent," he said, stressing the need to strengthen the public-private partnership and adopt multi-sectoral approach to this end.

Bangladesh is a unique example of public-private partnership and collaboration, especially in the health, nutrition and population sector programmes, he added.

Health and Family Welfare Secretary AKM Zafarullah Khan said Bangladesh has been a partner of PPD for the last 12 years and is working to build capacity to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

Harry Jooseery said it is unfortunate that investment by developed countries in international family planning has fallen by 13 percent of the target set by International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

PPD wants to alert the whole world, particularly the developing countries, on the need to adopt concerted efforts to address the reproductive issues, he added.

Senior Technical Advisor (Population and Development) of UNFPA Rabbi Royan also spoke at the inaugural session attended by delegates from foreign embassies and high commissions.

PPD, an intergovernmental alliance of 21 developing countries, was established with a mission to expand and improve South-South collaboration in the fields of family planning and reproductive health.