HIV Cases Rise as 26% Remain Outside Treatment

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Around 26% of people diagnosed with HIV in Bangladesh are still not receiving treatment, raising concern among public health experts as infections continue to increase.

Specialists say the situation is being worsened by limited access to testing, with 41 districts still lacking facilities for HIV screening. The issue was highlighted at a discussion on HIV held in Dhaka on Tuesday.

According to data presented at the event, an estimated 17,480 people are living with HIV in the country. Of them, 14,313 have been identified, reflecting a very low overall prevalence rate. However, only about 74% of those diagnosed are currently under treatment, leaving a significant number without care.

Health experts warn that these gaps are contributing to a steady rise in new infections, particularly among men who have sex with men, who now account for the largest share of cases.

Breakdown of affected groups shows that 34% of HIV-positive individuals belong to this category, followed by male sex workers at 14%. Migrant workers make up 12%, the Rohingya population 11%, and people who inject drugs 6%. Female sex workers and transgender individuals each account for 1%, while the remaining 22% fall into other groups.

Although Bangladesh recorded its first HIV case in 1989 and maintained relatively low infection rates for decades, the trend has changed in recent years. In 2025 alone, 1,891 new cases were detected, with most infections reported in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna and Sylhet.

The number of deaths linked to HIV has also increased. Since the first recorded death in 2000, annual fatalities have risen to 254 in 2025.

Experts pointed to a sharp rise in infection rates among men, noting that prevalence jumped from 0.7% in 2017 to 3.1% in 2020, with recent estimates suggesting a much steeper increase.

They stressed that stigma and discrimination remain major barriers to treatment. Many individuals avoid testing or care due to fear of social exclusion, which in turn increases the risk of further transmission.

Public health specialists emphasised that HIV is now a manageable condition with proper treatment, similar to other chronic diseases. New medical advances, including long-acting injections, can keep patients stable for extended periods.

They called for urgent steps to expand testing services, ensure wider access to treatment, and strengthen awareness campaigns to curb the spread of HIV in Bangladesh.