Staff Reporter :
An acute shortage of contraceptives has persisted for over a year though stakeholders repeated reported to the authorities concerned about severe depletion of the essential ingredient, exposing the negligence of the Directorate of Family Planning under the Ministry of Health.
Official sources report an almost zero stock of contraceptive supplies for couples nationwide, including condoms and pills, which has severely impacted family planning programmes supported by 11 donor organisations, including the World Health Organisation.
The crisis is attributed to inefficiency and alleged partisanship among certain officials.
For months, various districts and upazilas have faced a severe shortage of contraceptive materials.
According to the Directorate of Family Planning’s website, 105 upazilas currently have no condoms, and 445 upazilas lack oral contraceptives, both of which are crucial for controlling the birth rate in the country.
Reports from the field indicate that approximately 10% of couples have been unable to obtain contraceptives when needed over the past year.
Experts warn that the absence of these essential supplies will likely lead to a rise in unplanned pregnancies and, consequently, an increase in maternal mortality rates.
This would jeopardise Bangladesh’s commitment to reducing unmet needs and maternal mortality to zero by 2030, as pledged in international agreements.
Field workers typically distribute five types of contraceptives to couples: condoms, oral contraceptives, IUDs, injectables, and implants.
Condoms and pills are the most commonly used, with workers distributing over 5 million condoms and nearly 4 million pills each month.
However, the shortage has left many without these critical supplies, especially in poorer communities that rely on government-provided contraceptives.
The website tracking contraceptive stock in 493 upazilas shows that the situation is dire. Condom stocks are completely depleted in 105 upazilas, with 191 others close to running out.
Meanwhile, 445 upazilas have run out of pills, and only six have an adequate supply. Injectable contraceptives, the third most commonly used method, are also in short supply, with 25 upazilas reporting no stock and 155 others nearing depletion.
Although the director general of the Family Planning Directorate has the authority to allocate funds from the revenue budget to ensure contraceptive supply, this power was blocked by the ministry last year.
Repeated efforts by the directorate were delayed by bureaucratic hurdles, including interference from the former Health Education and Family Welfare Secretary.
Additionally, purchases from the development budget involve lengthy procedures that take several months to complete.
A tender for contraceptive procurement was issued on February 28 this year and evaluated on March 7, but the Directorate of Family Planning canceled the tender without awarding the contract to the qualified bidder.
The issue remains unresolved, with legal challenges pending in the High Court.
Bangladesh’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has seen a significant decline since the country’s independence in 1971 when the average TFR was around 6 children per woman.
Today, it stands at 2.3, largely due to the widespread distribution of contraceptives. However, this progress is now at risk due to the ongoing shortage.
Saifullahil Azam of the Directorate General of Family Planning acknowledged the crisis, stating, “Those previously in charge did not attempt to resolve the issue. We are now doing our best to overcome it.”
Noorjahan Begum, an adviser to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, could not be reached for comment.