Bangladesh Feminist Archives

December 1 marks World AIDS Day, a reminder that public health, structural inequality, and social stigma continue to shape who gets access to safety and who does not. This year’s reports show a troubling rise in HIV cases across Bangladesh. According to the National AIDS/STD Control Programme, 1,891 new HIV patients were identified between November 2024 and October 2025, the highest annual increase recorded in recent years. 254 AIDS-related deaths occurred during the same period, bringing the total deaths since 1989 to 2,666.

While national prevalence remains low (below 0.01% in the general population), the infection rate continues to be higher among key populations, including people who inject drugs (PWID) and men who have sex with men (MSM). Public health experts warn that limited access to youth-friendly services, stigma around testing, and misinformation make early diagnosis increasingly difficult, especially for young people aged 20–24. HIV is no longer concentrated in major cities alone, even though only 23 districts currently have testing facilities.

This year also marks a rise in HIV cases within the Rohingya refugee camps, where 217 new infections were recorded. Overcrowded living conditions, shrinking international aid, and gaps in prevention efforts have left displaced communities more vulnerable. NGOs working in Cox’s Bazar express concerns that reduced testing coverage means many cases remain undetected.

Across the country, government hospitals still face shortages, HIV kits, trained staff, and coordinated community outreach remain insufficient. Stigma around HIV, fear of discrimination, and moral policing continue to push people away from lifesaving services and silence the realities of those living with HIV.

On World AIDS Day, BDFA reflects on these intersecting crises not through blame, but through the lens of structural inequality. Public health is never separate from social justice. Ensuring access to testing, treatment, information, and dignity, without stigma, is essential for the safety of all communities, especially those already marginalized. Ending silence and strengthening care remain collective responsibilities.