Bangladesh

Bangladesh is reportedly on track to achieve or sustain progress on seven of the 14 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators related to maternal mortality, neonatal mortality, under-five mortality, adolescent fertility, infant vaccination, and subjective well-being. However, significant challenges remain in addressing malnutrition. Bangladesh is ranked 84th on the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), placing it in the “moderate” hunger category. According to the report, 11.9 percent of the population is undernourished, while 23.6 percent of children under five are stunted, 11 percent of children under five are wasted, and 2.9 percent die before their fifth birthday. Progress towards the nutrition-related SDG targets, particularly those concerning childhood stunting and wasting, remains insufficient.

Bangladesh is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly flooding during the monsoon season, given its low-lying geography and exposure to extreme weather events.

These challenges are compounded by the protracted Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar, one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies. Since 2017, Bangladesh has hosted more than one million displaced Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, home to the world’s largest refugee settlement. Women and children account for more than 75 percent of the refugee population and face heightened vulnerabilities. Many refugees live in informal shelters exposed to flooding and fire hazards, while continuing to face significant challenges in accessing adequate nutrition, maternal healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities.