ABSTRACT
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The population of Bangladesh has recently experienced an exponential increase of 14.4% compared with the 2001 census. Its population density is three times higher than that of neighboring India, four times that of the United Kingdom, seven times that of China and over 30 times that of the United States (BBS, 2011, p. 3). The enormous population of the country has heightened poverty levels because it affects per capita income and consumption, diminishes the positive effects of development intervention and undermines the country’s poverty reduction efforts (Islam, 2004, p. 1). Bangladesh is also characterized by extreme poverty and inequality. Gender discrimination and disempowerment of women are among the root causes of this situation.
