In an alarming revelation, Bangladesh has seen its highest number of HIV infections in a single year since the first case was detected in the country in 1989. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has reported a total of 1,276 new cases and 266 related deaths in the year 2023. This marks a significant rise from the previous year, which witnessed 947 new HIV diagnoses and 232 deaths due to the virus. Rising Numbers Among Bangladeshis and Rohingya Refugees Out of the total cases reported this year, a vast majority of 1,118 were among Bangladeshis, while the remainder involved Rohingya refugees residing in various camps in Cox’s Bazar. Cumulatively, since the first reported case, Bangladesh has seen 10,984 people diagnosed with HIV and 2,086 deaths. The government has been providing free treatment to individuals living with HIV in the country.