Bangladesh recorded 1,891 new HIV cases between November 2024 and October 2025, marking the sharpest annual rise in recent years. The National AIDS/STD Control Programme (NASP) released the latest figures at the World AIDS Day 2025 national briefing on Monday.
Presenting the data, NASP Director Dr Md Khairuzzaman expressed concern over expanding transmission patterns. He said infections were rising among both the general population and the Rohingya community in Cox’s Bazar.
According to NASP, the country logged 1,891 new infections in the past 12 months. AIDS-related deaths reached 254 during the same period, taking Bangladesh’s cumulative toll since 1989 to 2,666. Officials said wider testing, increased mobility, risky sexual practices and weak community-level prevention had contributed to the rise.
Bangladesh now estimates 17,480 people living with HIV in 2025, while adult prevalence remains below 0.01 per cent. However, infections continue to be concentrated among key populations, particularly people who inject drugs (PWID) and men who have sex with men (MSM). Public health experts warned that transmission is intensifying within these groups and could spill over into the broader population if prevention services fail to expand. They called for stronger harm-reduction programmes, wider condom availability and confidential treatment free from discrimination.
This year’s data also show higher infections among the Rohingya community. Of the new cases, 217 were detected in the camps in Cox’s Bazar. Health officials linked the rise to overcrowded settlements, limited formal healthcare and overstretched prevention services. Responders said declining external funding had reduced testing and community outreach, increasing the risk of undetected transmission.
Youth infections also rose. While people aged 25–49 still account for most new cases, NASP reported a notable increase among those aged 20–24. Officials attributed this trend to vulnerabilities among young adults, including university students, new workers and urban migrants who often lack credible information or access to confidential testing. Many are diagnosed only after symptoms appear.
New cases are now emerging in a wider number of districts, showing that HIV is spreading beyond traditional urban hotspots. Only 23 districts currently have functioning testing centres, leaving large regions underserved. Health authorities acknowledged that limited testing facilities are delaying early diagnosis, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
During the briefing, officials highlighted systemic problems in the HIV response. They pointed to gaps in public hospital services, poor coordination between government agencies and community groups, low awareness among both general and high-risk populations, and the persistence of stigma towards people living with HIV. They warned that these structural challenges continue to obstruct prevention efforts and slow treatment initiation outside major cities.
Public health leaders urged stronger district-level services and greater community engagement. They said continued investment and renewed donor support are essential to prevent the current rise from turning into a sustained surge.
