Bangladesh is inching towards a major public health concern amid ongoing political uncertainty and social unrest. Away from the spotlight on violence following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a critical shortage of contraceptives is threatening the country’s family planning framework. Reports indicate that the Directorate General of Family Planning could exhaust its condom supply within just 38 days, sparking fears of disrupted access to free contraception nationwide.
This crisis is the result of years of dwindling stocks, worsened by funding constraints and staff shortages. Condom supplies have declined by 57 per cent over six years, while pills, IUDs, injectables, and implants have also seen sharp reductions. Authorities concede that legal complications in procurement have delayed replenishment. Compounding the issue is a shortage of trained field workers, essential for counselling and distribution. With fertility rates rising for the first time in five decades, experts caution that extended shortages could reverse long-standing population control gains.
