• Source:JND

Bangladesh is staring at a fresh public health challenge as supplies of condoms and other contraceptives continue to shrink, raising concerns over the country’s family planning programme at a time when fertility indicators are moving in the wrong direction.

According to the Daily Star report, officials said that Bangladesh may be unable to distribute condoms, the most commonly used contraceptive in the country, for at least a month early next year due to funding constraints, procurement delays and a shortage of field-level workers. The warning comes amid social and political turbulence following the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, which has already disrupted administrative functioning in several sectors.

Stocks Nearing Exhaustion

According to data from the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), condom stocks are expected to be exhausted within the next 38 to 39 days. As of mid-December 2025, the agency had enough condoms to last just over a month, while stocks of implants, intrauterine devices and oral pills were also under pressure.

The national contraceptive summary report shows that condom supply has dropped by 57 per cent over the past six years. Other contraceptive items have seen similar declines, with oral pills down by 63 per cent, IUDs by 64 per cent, injectables by 41 per cent and implants by 37 per cent since 2019.

Funding And Manpower Shortage 

Officials attribute the shortage primarily to a prolonged fund crunch and unresolved legal issues linked to procurement.  Abdur Razzaque, director of DGFP’s logistics and supply unit, said contraceptives could be restocked once an ongoing legal dispute over purchases is settled. However, he cautioned that condoms are likely to run out before new supplies arrive, creating a supply gap of at least one month.

The situation worsened after the expiry of the Fourth Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Programme last year, under which most contraceptives were procured. In 2023, purchases were halted for nearly a year as funds were diverted to other health priorities, leaving a significant gap in supply. 

The crisis has been compounded by a shortage of field-level workers who distribute contraceptives and provide counselling. DGFP officials say nearly 25 per cent of sanctioned posts at the grassroots level remain vacant due to stalled recruitment linked to legal complications. These gaps have disrupted outreach services, particularly in rural and low-income areas.

Fertility Rate On Rise

The shortage comes at a sensitive time for Bangladesh’s population policy. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025, the country’s total fertility rate rose to 2.4 from 2.3 last year, marking the first increase in nearly five decades. Experts warn that reduced access to contraceptives could push the rate even higher.

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Population experts point to declining contraceptive use and changing social attitudes as contributing factors. “A combination of supply shortages, reduced counselling and growing reluctance towards family planning is behind the recent rise in fertility,” said Aminul Islam, professor of Population Sciences at Dhaka University.

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Government-led programmes once helped bring down the fertility rate sharply, but officials now acknowledge that restoring consistent contraceptive supply and strengthening manpower will be critical to preventing further setbacks in Bangladesh’s family planning efforts.


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