Humaira , an eight-months pregnant Rohinga woman at an Action Against Hunger clinic for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Bangladesh

Much of the population of Bangladesh live in poverty. The country is extremely vulnerable to climate disasters and hosts a large number of refugees from neighbouring countries.

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most populous countries and home to some of the highest rates of undernutrition around the world.

Millions of children under the age of five are suffering from life-threatening hunger. Poorly developed water resources, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene further undermine the country’s public health.

Recurring natural disasters such as cyclones and seasonal floods, made worse by climate change, can also have a devastating impact in this densely populated country.

Country facts

  • 161m

    Bangladesh has a population of 161 million people.

  • 135

    The country is 135th out of 189 countries in the Human Development Index.

  • 615,500

    There are an estimated 615,500 Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh.

Following violence in Myanmar in August 2017, a large number of Rohingya and other ethnic minorities crossed the border into Bangladesh. An estimated 615,500 refugees still live in the 34 camps of Cox’s Bazar.

The lack of food, cramped living conditions and lack of hygiene have led to high rates of malnutrition for both refugees and host communities.

The Rohingya mega camps of BangladeshA Rohingya refugee family living in Cox's Bazar, Bangldesh.

The Rohingya mega camps of Bangladesh

Life, loss and hope through the eyes of three Rohingya refugees.

Small actions make a difference

Our response to Covid-19 in Bangladesh

In the first half of 2020, we reached over 200,000 people through awareness campaigns about the importance of good hygiene and how to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Our nutrition teams also treated 45,000 children under five for malnutrition and distributed nutrition rations to 48,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Action Against Hunger’s staff in Cox’s Bazar also continued to provide emergency cooked meals, counselling sessions by trained psychologists and support at our health centres.

Our reach

  • 1,079,414

    We reached over a million people through our programmes in Bangladesh in 2019.

  • 3,424

    Our teams distribute 3,424 meals every day in Bangladesh.

  • 1,272

    We have 1,272 staff working in Dhaka, Cox's Bazar, Satkhira, Barguna and Kurigram.

Action Against Hunger’s work in Bangladesh

We’ve been working in Bangladesh since 2007. Our work focuses on:

  • malnutrition screening and treatment for children under five, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers
  • providing safe drinking water to both refugees and host communities through the construction and maintenance of water points
  • preparing communities vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters
  • providing Rohingya women and girls with mental health support and gender-based violence protection services
Save lives todayTwo children enjoy a meal provided by Action Against Hunger.

Save lives today

Help more vulnerable communities in Bangladesh beat hunger.

Donate now

Related

India

A mum and their son at an Action Against Hunger project in Baran, India.

Although food security is improving, the world’s largest democracy still has a lot to do to tackle its high malnutrition levels.

Fighting hunger

Myanmar

A Rohingya refugee carrying logs.

Despite the complex humanitarian situation, we continue to provide life-saving nutrition programmes in the Southeast Asian country.

Treating children

Pakistan

Dr Sohni, an Action Against Hunger member of staff in Pakistan.

Pakistan has South Asia’s second largest economy, but inequality, climate change and conflict have limited its development.

Tackling undernutrition