Family planning must to make population asset

The prime minister's International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi yesterday underscored the need for family planning and having fewer children to make population an asset instead of a burden.

Addressing National Inauguration of Baby Basics Bangladesh Program at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro, he spoke about a skilled population instead of a large population.

Marking National Safe Motherhood Day yesterday, NGO Dnet launched the Baby Basic Bangladesh Programme for pregnant women.

The main tool of the programme is a book "Babu Barta" containing useful information for pregnant women and information on the role of the father and families as a whole during birth of a baby.        

"I am certain this [Babu Barta] will serve as another valuable tool to protect lives of mothers and their babies," said US Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat.

Baby Basics Bangladesh is being implemented by 12 associate organisations. Also around 18,000 "mom's clubs" run by 200 trained facilitators are being set up in six divisions. The aim of the program is to reach 38,000 pregnant women.

Dnet Chief Executive Ananya Raihan and Baby Basics Bangladesh Director Iffat Nawaz were also present.