Bangladesh faces condom shortage amid funding and staff crisis, risking higher fertility rates. Photo: freepik AI
Bangladesh is witnessing a looming public health challenge as the country faces a potential shortage of condoms, the most commonly used contraceptive, early next year. The crisis comes amid ongoing violence following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
According to a report by The Daily Star, funding constraints and staff shortages have led to a steady decline in contraceptive supplies. Officials warn that condom stocks could be exhausted within 38 days.
Bangladesh’s family planning programme, managed by the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), may be unable to distribute condoms for about a month early next year. The DGFP provides five types of contraceptives free of cost through its field-level workers nationwide, including condoms, oral pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), injectables, and implants.
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The national contraceptive summary report reveals a significant decline in supply over the past six years:
Condoms: 57% drop
Oral pills: 63% drop
IUDs: 64% drop
Injectables: 41% drop
Implants: 37% drop
As of December 11, 2025, the DGFP’s available stock included:
Condoms: 39 days
Implants: 33 days
IUDs: 45 days
Oral pills: 5 months and 18 days
Injectables: 6 months and 15 days
The DGFP also faces a shortage of field-level workers, who play a crucial role in supplying contraceptives and providing guidance and counselling to users. Director General Ashrafi Ahmad said recruitment for certain posts has been halted due to legal complications, further straining the programme.
Abdur Razzaque, director of the DGFP’s logistics and supply unit, told The Daily Star, “These contraceptive items could be restocked soon, provided that an ongoing legal issue over the purchase is resolved.” He cautioned, however, that condoms are likely to run out, potentially leaving people without supplies for at least a month.
The shortage comes at a critical time, as Bangladesh has recorded an increase in its total fertility rate (TFR) for the first time in 50 years. Experts warn that the lack of contraceptives could push the TFR higher.
A recent national survey highlighted declining access to and use of modern contraception, linking it directly to the rise in TFR. Aminul Islam, a professor of Population Sciences at Dhaka University, told The Daily Star, “In recent years, many couples have become less inclined towards family planning, with some choosing to have more than two children.”
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025, released last month, reported the TFR at 2.4, up from 2.3 the previous year.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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