Dhaka, May 13 (UNB) – The growing population has been the main barrier to the country’s sustainable development, said Environment and Forests Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday.

“The population issue must be incorporated in the sustainable development agenda of the forthcoming Rio+20 Conference … without checking the population, sustainable development is not possible,” he told a national consultation at a city hotel.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests and The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly organised the meeting.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, UNDP residential representative Neal Walker and economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, among others, spoke at the meeting held with Environment and Forests secretary Mesbah-ul Alam in the chair.

Speaking as the chief guest, Hasan Mahmud said if the population keeps on growing, carbon emission will rise.  “The number of industries and vehicles are on the rise due to growing population. So, the population boom is creating obstacles to sustainable development,” he said.

The Environment Minister said Bangladesh will be self-sufficient in food within the next year, but it will be difficult to maintain the status if the growth of the country’s population cannot be checked.