For a Better Policy Approach: Bangladesh Parliament and UNFPA Join Hands to Advance SRHR
Every policy begins with a conversation. But lasting change begins when those conversations become laws, budgets, and public action. For Bangladesh, where millions of young people will shape the country’s future, strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) is no longer only a health issue. It is a national development priority.
That message was at the heart of a high-level orientation workshop jointly organised by the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for newly elected Members of Parliament. Bringing together lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, the workshop focused on how Parliament can play a stronger role in advancing women’s rights, youth empowerment, reproductive health, gender equality, and sustainable development.
Opening the programme, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram delivered one of the day’s strongest messages.
“The future of Bangladesh will depend, to a large extent, on what steps this Parliament takes for young people during this decade.”
He urged lawmakers to prioritise investments in girls’ education, family planning, reproductive health services, and youth skills development, while recognising that many of these goals require stronger legislative action.
The workshop highlighted how demographic change presents Bangladesh with both opportunities and challenges. Dr. M. Shahidul Islam, Chief of Demographic Data and Intelligence at UNFPA, explained that Bangladesh has a unique opportunity to benefit from its demographic dividend by investing in young people, expanding women’s economic participation, and preparing for healthy ageing.
Discussions also focused on some of the country’s most persistent SRHR challenges. Member of Parliament Fahima Nasrin emphasised that child marriage and gender-based violence continue to limit the rights and opportunities of women and girls. She called for stronger legal protection, greater investment, and survivor-centred support systems.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mahbubur Rahman, MP, highlighted the importance of strengthening maternal and reproductive health services, particularly in climate-vulnerable communities where access to healthcare remains uneven.
The orientation was chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal and also featured remarks from Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and Parliament Secretary Barrister Md. Golam Sorwar Bhuiyan. Participants also learned about the “Strengthening Parliament Capacity on Population and Development” initiative, designed to equip lawmakers with evidence and technical knowledge for informed policymaking.
UNFPA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s Parliament in strengthening laws related to child marriage prevention, domestic violence, workplace sexual harassment, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The timing of these discussions is significant. Although Bangladesh has made notable progress in reducing maternal mortality and expanding family planning services, challenges remain. Child marriage continues to affect nearly half of women aged 20 to 24 who were married before turning 18, while gender-based violence and unequal access to quality reproductive healthcare remain barriers for many women and adolescents, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.
The workshop recognised an important truth. Strong health systems alone cannot guarantee rights. Effective laws, informed policymakers, adequate budgets, and sustained political commitment are equally essential.
As Bangladesh works towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Parliament’s role will extend far beyond passing legislation. It will help determine whether every woman, girl, and young person can access the opportunities, protection, and healthcare they deserve. When lawmakers place young people and gender equality at the centre of national development, they are not simply shaping policies. They are shaping the country’s future.
