Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said those who are not satisfied with the population data, should keep giving birth to children.
She said: "Today, the population size of Bangladesh is 165,158,616, according to the latest census. Some people are not satisfied with the number. I would like to ask them that why they are not satisfied with it?"
"If you are not happy with the data, keep producing children and help increase the size of the population. We will feed your kids as we have no objection," she added.
The PM made the remarks while addressing a blood donation programme as the chief guest marking the first day of the month of mourning, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence on Monday.
The prime minister said the entire world has been rattled by the economic debacle due to the Russia-Ukraine war and the Coronavirus and many developed countries have been facing crisis for the reason.
The USA's inflation rate has increased to 9.1 percent due to the war which was only one percent while the inflation rate in the UK and Netherlands is 9.4 percent and many countries of the Europe have 8.9 percent inflation rates, she said.
"We have been able to keep the inflation rate at 7.5 percent," she added.
Taking the reality into consideration, the premier reiterated her call to all people to bring every inch of land and every water body under cultivation, saying, "We have to grow our food."
She asked her party men to pursue the order and inspire people to grow their food using every inch of their land.