While Bangladesh has made commendable gains in providing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, there are still considerable challenges to reaching zero maternal deaths and zero unmet needs for family planning. An estimated 4,200 mothers die each year due to pregnancy-related complications as maternal mortality and morbidity, like cervical cancer and obstetric fistula, remain serious concerns in the country.

Services such as family planning, skilled birth attendants at deliveries, antenatal, post-partum, emergency obstetric care, cervical cancer, and obstetric fistula screening and management are critical life-saving means of support that impact maternal mortality and morbidity as well as meet every individual's needs for contraception.

UNFPA, Bangladesh is using a human rights-based, people-centered, and lifecycle approach to addressing SRHR in collaboration with the government, civil society organizations, private sector actors, and other UN organizations honoring the country’s commitment to the UN Secretary General’s Global Strategy for women’s and children’s health. 

Adolescent sexual & reproductive health

As young people make up a considerable and still growing segment of the demographic in Bangladesh, adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health deserves critical attention in the streamlining of effective Health Sector services and support.

Bangladesh currently faces a demographic window of opportunity, a time at which the number of people in the working age group is high and the number of dependents (very young and elderly) is low. If the right investments in health, education, and employment are made now a demographic dividend can be realized with the potential to propel development.

UNFPA is leading initiatives with partners to ensure adolescents receive information and services for their sexual and reproductive health. UNFPA works through schools, madrasas, technical and vocational training centers, and adolescent clubs.