Bangladesh’s Population at 19 Cr, Dhaka Houses 1.51 Cr
According to the Election Commission (EC), Bangladesh’s current population stands at 19 crore, with approximately 1.51 crore residing in the capital, Dhaka.
Election Commissioner Tahmina Ahmad shared this data during a dialogue with civil society representatives at the EC Bhaban in Agargaon on Sunday. She stated, “We collected precise data during door-to-door voter list updates, confirming a population of 19 crore, including 1.51 crore expatriates and 1.51 crore in Dhaka alone.”
Challenging the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data, Tahmina remarked, “BBS figures fluctuate, which is unacceptable.”
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin noted that updating the voter list was a major task, with 21 lakh deceased voters removed. He added that nine legal amendments have significantly advanced preparations for a fair election, crediting the interim government’s reform commission.
Journalist and poet Sohrab Hassan questioned whether public trust in the EC matters more than its belief in holding free elections under the current government. He urged the EC to ensure no party opts out due to unfavorable conditions, warning of risks to democracy’s future.
Former caretaker government adviser Rasheda K. Choudhury emphasized that prioritizing youth should not reduce participation of the elderly, poor, women, or minorities. On women’s representation, she criticized political parties’ promises of 5-7% female nominations, calling it inadequate and demanding 33% representation.
The dialogue saw participation from Chittagong University Vice-Chancellor Professor Md. Yahya Akhter, former ambassador Humayun Kabir, Dhaka University Professor Robayet Ferdous, and others.
