Bangladesh is experiencing a troubling increase in HIV cases and deaths even as global numbers continue to decline, health officials said.
The country recorded 1,438 new HIV infections and 326 deaths last year, up from 1,276 infections and 266 deaths in 2023, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. In the first six months of 2025 alone, 882 new cases were reported. Since the first case was detected in 1989, Bangladesh has recorded 12,422 infections and 2,412 deaths.
Officials attribute the rise partly to expanded testing, with more than 1.6 million tests conducted last year. Still, 23 percent of people living with HIV remain unaware of their status.
Preventive services were disrupted after the expiry of a government program in June 2024, leaving key populations — including sex workers, drug users and transgender individuals — especially vulnerable. Health experts warn funding shortages threaten Bangladesh’s ability to meet the global goal of eliminating AIDS by 2030.