Department of Population Sciences, University of Dhaka (DPSDU) in association with UNFPA Bangladesh has organized International E-Conference on Emerging Population Issues dated on 01-02 December, 2020. On the first day the chief guest of the E-conference was Mr. M. A. Mannan, MP, Honorable Minister of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The E-conference was inaugurated by Professor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Honorable Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka. The special guest of the opening session was Dr. Asa Torkelsson, UNFPA Country Representative, Bangladesh. The inaugural session was chaired by Professor Dr. Mohammad Mainul Islam, Chairman of the Department of Population Sciences, University of Dhaka.

Mr. M. A. Mannan, MP, in his speech highlighted about the impact of currently ongoing coronavirus pandemic on the important population indicators of Bangladesh. Professor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Honorable Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka in his inauguration speech similarly focused on the socio-economic impacts and probable after effects of ongoing coronavirus pandemic on different emerging population issues of Bangladesh. Dr. Asa Torkelsson, UNFPA Country Representative, Bangladesh, in her speech emphasized on achieving triple zero. Zero maternal death, zero unmet need for family planning and zero incidence of gender-based violence. Professor Dr. Mohammad Mainul Islam, the Chairman of Department of Population Sciences, University of Dhaka concluded the inauguration session by asserting the potential and commitment of this E-conference to address the socio-economic, demographic and policy related implications of emerging population issues which are currently being impacted by the ongoing pandemic in both national and global context.

There were five (05) technical sessions of this E-conference. In this technical sessions eleven (11) papers were presented. Presenters from Bangladesh and other countries (India, China, and Australia) presented their papers in these sessions. A spontaneous and interactive question answer session also followed each of the sessions.

On the first day of the conference (01 December), three technical sessions took place.  A total of seven papers were presented on the first day. Technical session one was titled as “Human Capital Development and Demographic Dividend”. Dr. Hossen Zillur Rahman, Executive Chairman, PPRC & Chairman, BRAC Bangladesh was the chair of the session. During this session three papers were presented. Prof. Dr. Samir KC, Shanghai University, China & Research Scholar, World Population Program, IIASA; Adjunct Asso. Prof. Dr. Gour Dasvarma, Flinders University, Australia and Asso. Prof. Dr. Udoy Saikia, Flinders University, Australia presented their papers.

Technical session two was titled as “Migration and Development”. Prof. Dr. AKM Nurun Nabi, Founder Chairman, Dept. of Population Sciences, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh was the chair of the session. During this session two papers were presented. Senior Lecturer, Dr. Salut Muhidin, Macquarie University, Australia and combinedly Prof. Dr. AQM Mahbub and Prof. Dr. Nurul Islam Nazem, Dept. of Geography and Environment, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh presented their papers.

Technical session three was titled as “Active Aging and Wellbeing”. Prof. Dr. Shamsul Alam, Member (Senior Secretary), General Economic Division (GED), Planning Commission, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was the chair of the session. During this session two papers were presented. Prof. Dr. Xiaochun Qiao, Peking University, China and Asst. Prof. Dr. Harihar Sahoo, International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, India presented their papers. 

On the second day of the conference (02 December), two technical sessions took place.  A total of four papers were presented on the first day. Technical session four was titled as “Health System, Universal Health Coverage and SRHR”. Dr. Eiko Narita, Deputy Country Representative, UNFPA Bangladesh was the chair of the session. During this session two papers were presented. Prof. Dr. Malabika Sarker, Associate Dean of the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Bangladesh and Prof. Dr. Rumana Huque, Dept. of Economics, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh presented their papers. 

Technical session five was titled as “Climate Change and Displacement Challenges”. Dr. Ubaidur Rob, Senior Associate & Country Director Population Council, Bangladesh was the chair of the session. During this session two papers were presented. Ms. Roksana Tarannum, PhD Fellow, Flinders University, Australia and Prof. Dr. Mohammad Bellal Hossain, Dept. of Population Sciences, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh presented their papers.

On the second day of the conference (02 December), the chief guest of the concluding session of the E-conference was Prof. Dr. Muhammad Samad, Honorable Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. In his speech Mr. Samad highlighted on some crucial issues like forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMN), challenges to ensure universal health coverage, frequent exposure to extreme climatic events, changing age structure and growing number of the aging population and human resource development to grab the demographic dividend opportunity. Special Guest of the concluding session of the E-conference was Prof. Dr. Sadeka Halim, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. In her speech she also emphasized on the challenges to achieve demographic dividend of the country. Alongside this she also focused on some emerging issues like impacts of climate changes and forcefully displaced population which are posing newer dimensions of population related challenges. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mainul Islam, Chairman, Dept. of Population Sciences, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh announced the conclusion of this international E-conference with thanks to everyone for making the success of this E-conference.