World AIDS Day: record rise in infections in Bangladesh
Between the fall of 2024 and 2025, 1,891 new HIV infections were recorded. The rise in the Rohingya camps of Cox's Bazar is "worrying". Only one specialised hospital exists in the country, and it is on the verge of being overwhelmed. Shortages of kits and staff, and social stigma hinder prevention and treatment. Experts are calling for more funding, sex education, and greater awareness.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – The number of people infected with HIV in Bangladesh continues to rise, raising concerns among health experts and humanitarian organisations.
According to government data released for World AIDS Day, which falls today 1 December, 1,891 new cases of infection were recorded between November 2024 and October 2025, the highest annual increase in recent times.
Of these, 217 cases were detected in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, a trend experts describe as “deeply worrying”, given the vulnerability of displaced populations.
The National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Control Programme under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reports that 1,438 new infections occurred in 2024, with 195 deaths, while 1,276 infections and 266 deaths were recorded in 2023.
The DGHS estimates that approximately 14,600 people in Bangladesh are living with HIV, and only a fraction have been officially identified.
In the first six months of 2025 alone, 882 new cases were confirmed, suggesting that this year's total could surpass previous records, highlighting the trend.
Bangladesh has only one specialised hospital for HIV patients, the Mohakhali Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka, which has 40 beds reserved for people with AIDS. These beds remain occupied for most of the year, forcing many patients to receive treatment on the floor.
Patients requiring surgery often face long delays, and doctors warn that the lack of infrastructure puts patients' lives at risk.
“There was a shortage of testing kits," said Dr Md. Khairuzzaman, director of the National AIDS/STD Control Programme. “A recent fire at the airport delayed delivery, but we expect the kits soon,” he added. Experts also point to a shortage of qualified personnel and counselling facilities.
“About 40 per cent of HIV patients are homosexuals, and another 40 per cent contracted the virus abroad,” explained Dr A R M Sakhawat Hossain, adding that infections through blood transfusions and other means continue.
Like elsewhere in the world, despite free antiretroviral drugs available in Bangladesh, many patients avoid treatment for fear of social stigma.
“Patients don’t want to come for treatment because they fear humiliation,” said Md. Liton, an HIV counsellor at Mohakhali Hospital. “Families often reject infected members, and society continues to view HIV as a 'moral failure’.”
This stigma leads to delayed testing and treatment interruptions, increasing the risk of transmission.
“I delayed getting tested because I was afraid everyone would know. By the time I started treatment, my condition had worsened,” said Panna Hossain, a young woman living with HIV.
Furthermore, awareness campaigns have weakened compared to previous decades. “In a country where millions search for sexual health information online, reliable local resources are scarce,” said Moudud Ahmed of the DGHS.
The latter calls for mandatory sex education in schools, with district-level testing and counselling, and more effective social media campaigns.
The situation is particularly dire in Cox's Bazar, home to nearly a million Rohingya refugees.
Overcrowded camps, poverty, and limited access to healthcare increase vulnerability. Furthermore, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and drug use, including needle recycling, fuel the spread of HIV.
An aid worker told AsiaNews anonymously that “Declining international funding has reduced testing and outreach;” thus “many infections among refugees remain undiagnosed.”
Caritas Bangladesh marked World AIDS Day with a human chain in Tongi, Gazipur, involving over 100 participants, including local residents, NGOs, and social organisations.
“Raising awareness, removing social barriers, and standing by vulnerable populations are crucial to preventing AIDS. Without collective efforts, it is impossible to build a safe and non-discriminatory society,” noted Niher Biswas, director of the Baraca Drop-in Centre.
Baraca stands for the Bangladesh Rehabilitation and Assistance Center for Addicts. It is one of the projects managed by Caritas Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is taking part in the global observance of World AIDS Day, centred this year on “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response”.
Experts insist that without urgent measures, such as increased funding, widespread testing, specialised hospitals, education in schools, and stigma reduction, the country’s public health crisis could get worse.
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