DHAKA: The World Population Day was observed in the country as also elsewhere across the globe Sunday, renewing a universal campaign for rearing everyone born as a competent citizen with a decent life.

With the slogan ‘Everyone counts’, different organisations carried various programmes like seminars, discussions, symposia, drawing competition, and painting and film exhibitions.

A procession, led by family welfare minister AFM Ruhal Haque, was brought out from the National Museum and ended at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

Meanwhile, “Initiatives have been taken for the poor, mostly who are underage, illiterate and fresh couple, to get family-planning services, said the Health Minister at a news conference in his office Saturday.    

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the occasion.

The event, established by the United Nations Development Programme in 1989, seeks an increased public awareness of population issues like importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health, sexual and reproductive health, and human rights which have a serious impact on world’s development and environment.

BDST: 1600 HRS, 11 JULY 2010