Bangladesh’s population has officially exceeded 400 million, according to a report from the Global Survey Group. In a press statement on Wednesday (October 16), spokesperson Akhtar E-Kamal emphasized that the same population estimates have been reported for the past 27 years.
He revealed that various NGOs, along with successive governments, have concealed the actual population figures. The motive behind this was to maintain foreign aid, which often depended on portraying a reduced population growth rate. If the population appeared to be growing, it could halt the flow of international funds aimed at controlling population growth, the report suggested.
E-Kamal explained that Bangladesh’s population was estimated at 17 million in 1997, but no significant updates have been made since. Governments across the years, from Ziaur Rahman to the present, have consistently underreported the country’s true population size. 
He also compared historical data, stating that during the Pakistan era, Bangladesh’s population was about 5 million. After independence, the first census in 1974 reported 76.4 million people. By 1996, the population had risen to 170 million, yet no further substantial increases were officially acknowledged.
The report highlights a troubling discrepancy in census data and calls for transparency in future estimates. E-Kamal concluded that, given current trends, Bangladesh’s population could realistically be around 550 million today, but the actual figure remains hidden from the public.
