DHAKA, July 7, 2026 – For Jahanara Akter Lima becoming a midwife means returning home to Panchagarh and ensuring that women in one of Bangladesh’s most remote districts do not face pregnancy and childbirth alone.
“I like this profession because I can care for pregnant women and newborn babies,” said Jahanara, who is studying for a Diploma in Midwifery at BRAC University. “After I complete my course, I will be able to serve the people in my community.”
Her ambition reflects the promise behind Bangladesh’s commitment to deploy 25,000 midwives by 2030, a landmark national investment aimed at bringing safe, respectful and high-quality maternal health care closer to women across the country.
The commitment, publicly announced by the Government of Bangladesh in June this year in Lisbon at the Triennial Conference on Midwives, was reaffirmed at a National-Level Advocacy Workshop on Strengthening the Midwifery Profession in Bangladesh, organized in Dhaka by the Bangladesh Midwifery Society with support from UNFPA Bangladesh, the Maternity Foundation and Civil Society in Development (CISU). Government representatives, regulators, educators, midwives, students, and development partners gathered to discuss what is needed to turn the pledge into lasting change for women and newborns.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain stressed the urgency of expanding skilled midwifery services, particularly in communities where women continue to face the greatest barriers to care. He emphasized that investing in midwives is not simply about creating jobs; it is an investment in the health of mothers, newborns and the nation.
Bangladesh has made significant progress in maternal health, reducing the maternal mortality ratio from 574 deaths per 100,000 live births in the mid-1980s to 136 in 2023. The country has also been recognized as a Champion Country under the global Midwifery Accelerator initiative.
“UNFPA will work in partnership until every woman in Bangladesh, no matter how far left behind, has access to high-quality, midwifery-led care,” said Catherine Breen Kamkong, UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh.
UNFPA Representative welcomed the Government’s commitment and emphasized that the deployment of 25,000 midwives must prioritize the women and communities most in need. Midwives must also have safe workplaces, professional recognition, strong leadership and opportunities to continue their education and advance their careers.
For Lamiya Akter, a second-year student at Al Mana Nursing College, midwifery is both a profession and a personal calling.
“My dream is to become a skilful midwife and stand beside mothers and newborns as they start a new life,” she said.
She believes the need is particularly urgent outside major cities.
“Bangladesh needs more midwives, especially in rural areas, to support normal, safe deliveries,” she added.
Participants emphasized that expanding the profession must be matched by strong education and well-prepared teachers.
Halima Akhter, Registrar of the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council, encouraged midwives to use national platforms to speak confidently about their profession and their indispensable contribution to maternal and newborn health.
Evidence discussed at the workshop showed that investing in educated, regulated and supported midwives is among the smartest investments a country can make, potentially generating returns of up to 16 times the initial investment.
As Bangladesh moves towards deploying 25,000 midwives, students such as Jahanara and Lamiya are preparing to carry that commitment into communities across the country.
