Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the country's population would exceed 16 crore, nearly two crore more than the census data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) last week.
According to the preliminary report on Population and Housing Census 2011, the population now stands at 14.23 crore.
"The difference between enumerated figure and the final figure is always between 4 and 5 percent. Some 7.5 million expatriates will also be included this time. So the final figure would stand between 16.2 to 16.5 crore," Muhith told journalists at a discussion at the National Press Club.
The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) is carrying out a sample survey, which will be published in September and the final figure will come out after that, the minister added.
The Economic Reporters' Forum organised the discussion on budget implementation and challenges with its president Monwar Hossain in the chair.
The reporters raised the issue saying that finding the real figure of population is crucial for successful implementation of the national budget.
The "underestimated" census data also sparked debate among policymakers and analysts as those could misguide the government in decision-making process. A powerful cabinet member Matia Chowdhury also raised questions on the census data.
"The complaint is every house was not covered. Even the house of the agriculture minister was not covered," said Muhith. Simultaneously, the minister added this census was relatively better as it used digital maps and voter lists in reaching out to the people.
Muhith said the data that has been published is a preliminary estimate and further work is being carried out to finalise it. He added BIDS would finish sample survey by September this year and after that the country will get a final figure.
"There has always been a difference of nearly two crore between the UNFPA and the government estimates. This time the government has included UNFPA into the census," the minister pointed out.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) early last year projected Bangladesh's population at 16.44 crore, which triggered criticism particularly from the government. Later, UNFPA revised the population at 14.87 crore.
Source : The Daily Star
