Labonnya Liza ; Dhaka – A severe shortage has hit the government-distributed family planning materials across Bangladesh, with the supply of five major types of contraceptives plummeting by nearly 78%.
This critical crisis has been lingering for the last year and a half. Public health experts and officials are deeply concerned as the country’s birth rate begins to climb after remaining stable for years.
According to family planning officials, public health experts, and development partners, the crisis stems from financial constraints, prolonged procurement and supply chain delays, and complexities surrounding budget implementation.
Although field-level offices of the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) repeatedly placed demands, the Ministry of Health failed to take timely action due to a lack of funds.
Experts warn that reduced access to birth control and the subsequent rise in fertility rates will lead to a spike in unintended and unplanned pregnancies.
This will ultimately increase the population growth rate, heighten maternal and infant mortality risks, and lead to more high-risk pregnancies. Economically, it will expand the dependent population over the workforce, putting immense strain on the national economy.
Widespread Scarcity Across Sub-districts
Recent data from the DGFP reveals a devastating picture across the country’s upazilas (sub-districts):
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Condoms: Out of stock in 378 upazilas.
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Oral Pills: Unavailable in 367 upazilas.
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Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP): Depleted in 418 upazilas.
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Implants (3-5 years long-acting): Zero stock in 311 upazilas.
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IUDs (10 years long-acting): Unavailable in 397 upazilas.
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Injectables: Completely exhausted in 477 upazilas.
Beyond birth control, essential maternal health medicines—such as Misoprostol, Oxytocin, Iron-Folic Acid, and Magnesium Sulfate—are also out of stock in most sub-districts.
Supply Decline by the Numbers
Official statistics show that 37% of eligible couples rely on the government sector for contraceptives, while 3% rely on NGOs. The remaining 60% purchase them from the private sector.
Due to the shortage, the supply of government injectables dropped to just 500,000, down from 1.14 million in 2022—a 56% decline. Oral pill supplies plummeted by nearly 79%, dropping from 8.89 million to 1.89 million.
The situation is even more alarming for long-acting methods:
| Contraceptive Type | Previous Supply | Current Supply | Percentage Decline |
| Apon Brand Oral Pills | 2,304,943 | 43,768 | 98% |
| Implants | 2,983,000 | 9,752 | 97% |
| IUDs | 19,691 | 7,283 | 63% |
The Human and Economic Cost
Contraceptives are typically distributed free of charge through Upazila Health Complexes, Union Health and Family Welfare Centers, and community clinics. Because of the shortage, low-income individuals are now forced to buy these items from retail markets at high prices.
Experts point out that the poor rely heavily on government facilities, and there is no guarantee they can afford retail prices, which drastically spikes the risk of unplanned pregnancies.
The impact is already reflecting in demographic data. According to the BBS and UNICEF Joint Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025, Bangladesh’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has ticked up to 2.4, after remaining stagnant at 2.3 since 2012.
“We are supposed to maintain at least a six-month buffer stock for family planning materials, but currently, we have no adequate stock of pills, injections, implants, or IUDs,” said Professor Dr. Monjur Hossain, former Director General of the DGFP. “Even a one-month disruption in the supply chain inflicts massive economic damage. A one-dollar shortage in supply can lead to nearly 14 dollars of long-term social and economic losses.”
1,000 Crore BDT Allocated to Resolve Crisis
The crisis worsened primarily after the Operation Plan (OP) under the Health, Population, and Nutrition Sector Program (HPNSP) wound down in 2025.
Delays in approving new projects, appointing project directors, and releasing funds completely stagnated procurement activities.
Addressing the issue, Md. Abdur Razzaq, Director (Logistics and Supply) of the DGFP, stated that a full procurement cycle takes at least 120 days, which they could not initiate on time.
To mitigate the crisis, the government has allocated BDT 1,000 crore in the proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year specifically for purchasing family planning materials. Authorities hope that once the new shipments arrive, the severe deficit will be effectively resolved.