Feature

World Population Day 2010 & MPS Fresher's Reception
Department of Population Sciences, DU

Mehruba Islam

11 July is a significant day for Department of Population Sciences as it is the inception day of the department and also the MPS fresher's reception day.

"Everyone Counts" is the slogan of World Population Day, 2010. This year, the World Population Day highlights the importance of "Data for Development". The focus is on the 2010 round of the population and housing census, data analysis for development and UNFPA's lead role in population and development. Good demographic data is critical for planning schools, health systems and public transportation, for designing policies based on future population projections, monitoring the effectiveness of service delivery and much more.

This year, Department of Population Sciences of University of Dhaka had arranged an orientation ceremony on July11, for its 11th batch of MPS (Master of Population Sciences) at Senate Bhaban. Every year 25 students are enrolled in this programme and 5 in the diploma course. The MPS Programme is a two year-long programme, divided into 4 semesters. The Department of Population Sciences was established in 1999 under the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Dhaka in collaboration with UNFPA to create a generation of trained people for the nation. The department focuses on developing skills and creative judgments in individuals for understanding and making effective management of population issues through a multidisciplinary approach.

It was a daylong programme, starting with a rally from the footsteps of Aparajeyo Bangla led by Vice Chancellor, Dr.AA.M.S. Arefin Siddique, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr.Harun -Ur-Rashid and Professor Dr. A.K.M. Nurun Nabi.

Afsana Taher, Operations Manager, UNFPA, Bangladesh was the special guest of the occasion. Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Pro- Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Harun -Ur-Rashid, Abu Hasanat Md. Kishowar, the acting chairperson of the Department of Population Sciences delivered their speeches on the subject.

Pamela on behalf of 3rd semester students welcomed the freshers. Sabbir on behalf of 1st semester students gave his speech. After that, the freshers were cordially received with flowers and gifts.

After lunch, there was discussion and a film show on population related issues by the American center, US Embassy, Dhaka. Professor Dr. A.K.M. Nurun Nabi, project director, Department of Population Sciences delivered the concluding speech.

(The writer is a student, Department of Population Sciences, University of Dhaka)