Bangladesh’s child malnutrition problem remains stubbornly persistent, even as a significant portion of kids struggle with hunger and poor dietary variety. Five-year-old Sumaiya, who should be thriving in school, is instead confined to a small room in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel Begunbari slum, frequently falling ill and showing signs of acute weakness. Her family’s hidden struggle is plain in her stunted height and frail body, a daily reminder of long-term undernutrition and the challenge of affording everyday essentials. School dreams for Sumaiya have faded, replaced by survival concerns.
Sumaiya’s mother, Rokeya Begum, a domestic worker, told The Business Standard that nutritious food is simply not affordable. Even staples have become costly, with rice and lentils proving difficult to manage. Facing rent, three mouths to feed, and limited income, the family’s meals mostly consist of rice and vegetables. Meat, fish, dairy, and fruit are scarce or absent from their plates.
This story mirrors a broader national trend highlighted by the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025, recently released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Wasting among children under five has risen to 12.5% from 9.8%, signaling a sharp increase in acute malnutrition. The prevalence of being underweight remains high at 23%. Alarmingly, only 35% of children aged 6–23 months meet the minimum diverse diet, a key indicator of growth potential and immune strength.
The BBS describes wasting as being too thin for one’s height, a dangerous form of undernutrition often caused by rapid weight loss or inadequate weight gain. Children who are moderately or severely wasted face a much higher risk of death without timely treatment. Stunting, representing impaired growth from chronic undernutrition and recurrent infections, continues to be a major concern as well.
On a brighter note, stunting has begun to decline, now estimated at 24% nationally. Yet nearly one in four Bangladeshi children under five remains underweight due to a combination of wasting, stunting, and persistent food insecurity. The BBS urges the government to accelerate both prevention and treatment of wasting and to strengthen food systems, primary healthcare, and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) initiatives to combat stunting.
Experts warn about long-term consequences. Dr. Khaleda Islam, a professor at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, describes the figures as mixed: some progress exists, but there are clear regressions in dietary variety. “Dietary diversity ensures access to a range of nutrients. Without it, nutrition cannot improve,” she explains. The rise in wasting could hinder age-appropriate physical and cognitive development, potentially limiting long-term learning and mental growth.
This year’s MICS also includes anemia testing for the first time, revealing high rates among children 12–59 months and pregnant women, indicating widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Dr. Islam notes that iron-deficiency anemia has long been a problem, but additional micronutrient gaps—vitamins and related nutrients—are also significant. Maternal anemia raises the risk of low-birth-weight babies, who are more vulnerable to pneumonia, diarrhea, and growth delays.
Economic pressures, both global and domestic, are pushing nutritious foods out of reach for many low-income families. People may meet basic caloric needs but still lack a diverse, nutrient-rich diet. Authorities are urged to weave the BBS findings into public and private nutrition programs, with a strong emphasis on broadened food variety.
Maternal health remains central. Dr. Ferdousi Begum, former president of the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh, stresses correcting anemia before and during pregnancy. Reducing maternal anemia lowers the risk of postpartum hemorrhage and the birth of underweight babies, who face higher mortality risks. She advocates for ensuring at least four antenatal visits to detect and address issues early, noting that regular prenatal care can prevent many complications from escalating.
Regional disparities show Sylhet as the region with the weakest child-nutrition indicators, recording 32% stunting and 14% wasting among under-five children. By contrast, Khulna reports the lowest stunting rate at 21%, and Dhaka reports the lowest wasting rate at 11%. Across the country, only about 74% of children aged 6–23 months receive the minimum number of meals per day, with just 35% meeting dietary diversity standards and 30% achieving a minimum acceptable diet. Rural, low-income, and less-educated households are notably less likely to meet dietary standards, yet even in urban, wealthier, and more educated families, fewer than half of children reach adequate dietary diversity. This gap highlights a nationwide challenge in nutritional awareness and access that requires broad, targeted action.
