Nearly 26% of people diagnosed with HIV in Bangladesh are still outside treatment, according to public health experts.
The situation is further complicated by limited testing access as 41 districts across the country still lack facilities for HIV or AIDS testing, they said at a workshop on HIV organised by the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum with support from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation at Bangladesh Medical Association Bhaban in the capital today (29 April).
The experts warned that these gaps are contributing to a steady rise in infections, particularly among men who have sex with men.
Akhtar Jahan Shilpi, country director of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said Bangladesh currently has an estimated 17,480 people living with HIV. Of them, 14,313 have been identified, reflecting a national prevalence rate of 0.01%.
Among those diagnosed, 8,575 individuals – about 74% – are receiving treatment. However, a large portion remains uncared for, raising concerns about continued transmission and health risks, he said.
Data presented at the workshop showed that 34% of HIV-positive individuals belong to the men who have sex with men category, while 14% are male sex workers.
Other affected groups include migrant workers (12%), Rohingya population (11%), people who inject drugs (6%), and female sex workers and transgender individuals (1% each). The remaining 22% fall into other categories.
Bangladesh first identified an HIV case in 1989, with relatively low numbers recorded annually for decades. However, the trend has shifted in recent years.
In 2025 alone, 1,891 new cases were detected, marking a sharp increase compared to previous years. Most infections have been reported in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna and Sylhet.
The first recorded death from HIV or AIDS in the country occurred in 2000. By 2025, annual deaths had risen to 254.
Participants also highlighted a sharp rise in infection rates among men. The prevalence in this group was 0.7% in 2017, increasing to 3.1% in 2020. Recent analyses suggest the rate has surged further, reaching nearly 34%.
The experts stressed the urgent need to expand testing services, improve access to treatment, and address stigma and discrimination that discourage people from seeking care.
Rashed Rabbi, health affairs editor at a Bangla daily, noted that earlier high-risk groups included people who inject drugs, migrant workers, and sex workers.
However, since 2020, infection rates have risen significantly among men who have sex with men, placing them at the highest risk, followed by migrant workers, he said.
Rashed emphasised the importance of mandatory health screening for returning migrant workers to help control the spread of HIV.
Prof Dr Saif Ullah Munshi, a virologist of Bangladesh Medical University, warned that stigma remains a major barrier to treatment. “When vulnerable groups are socially targeted or stigmatised, they avoid seeking healthcare, which increases public health risks.”
He added that discrimination – such as denying jobs or rights based on HIV status – constitutes a violation of human rights and further pushes affected individuals away from treatment.
Experts also noted that HIV is no longer a death sentence. With proper treatment, it can now be managed like a chronic condition such as diabetes. Advances in medicine have even introduced long-acting injections that can keep patients stable for an entire year with a single dose.
They urged coordinated efforts to improve awareness, ensure early diagnosis, and guarantee treatment access to curb the spread of HIV in Bangladesh.
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