While Bangladesh has made commendable progress in public health since independence, particularly in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, recent reports from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), released in March 2024, show concerning trends.

Regrettably, several vital health indicators, including child mortality and life expectancy, have declined.

According to the latest BBS report, the infant mortality rate increased from 21 to 27 per 1000 live births in 2023 compared to five years earlier. Similarly, newborn mortality rose from 15 to 20 per 1000 live births.

The mortality rate for under-five children climbed from 28 to 33 per thousand. Additionally, child marriage rates also increased, with 41.6% of girls marrying before 18, up from 40.9% in 2022and the marriages of under-15 girls rose from 6.5% to 8.2% worsening adolescent childbearing.