Child nutrition in Bangladesh faces a dire situation, with persistent wasting and low dietary diversity among children, according to the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025. The survey reveals alarming statistics, including a 12.5% wasting rate among under-fives, up from 9.8%, indicating a steep rise in acute malnutrition. Underweight prevalence remains high at 23%. Even more concerning, only 35% of children aged 6-23 months consume the minimum recommended variety of foods, an indicator closely linked to both growth and immunity. The situation is particularly dire in the Begunbari slum in Dhaka's Hatirjheel, where five-year-old Sumaiya, who should be racing to school, lies curled up in a small room, frequently falling ill due to undernutrition. Her family's struggle to afford even the basics highlights the pervasive impact of malnutrition. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) describes wasting as one of the most dangerous forms of child undernutrition, often caused by rapid weight loss or failure to gain weight. Children who are moderately or severely wasted face a significantly higher risk of death without timely treatment. Stunting, the impaired growth and development caused by poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation, affects nearly one in four Bangladeshi children under five. The BBS survey results also show that nearly one in four children under five remains underweight, a result of wasting, stunting, and persistent food insecurity. The BBS has urged the government to scale up prevention and treatment of wasting while continuing efforts to reduce stunting through stronger food systems, primary healthcare, and improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions. Experts warn of long-term consequences, with Dr. Khaleda Islam noting that the rise in wasting will prevent children from achieving age-appropriate physical and cognitive development. The MICS 2025 data also reveal that only 74% of children aged 6-23 months receive the minimum recommended number of meals each day, and even fewer meet dietary diversity standards (35%) or minimum acceptable diet levels (30%). Children from rural, low-income, and low-education households are far less likely to meet dietary standards, indicating a significant gap in nutritional awareness nationwide. The situation is particularly dire in the Sylhet division, where stunting among children under five stands at 32%, while wasting is at 14%, both higher than national averages. However, Khulna records the lowest stunting rate at 21%, and Dhaka the lowest wasting rate at 11%. Maternal health is at the core of this issue, with Professor Dr. Ferdousi Begum stressing the need to correct anaemia before and during pregnancy. Maternal anaemia increases the risk of postpartum haemorrhage and low-birth-weight babies, who are more prone to pneumonia, diarrhoea, and impaired growth. Ensuring at least four antenatal check-ups can help detect and treat these issues early, preventing many problems before they escalate. The BBS findings emphasize the need for improved food diversity in public and private nutrition programmes, with a strong emphasis on addressing the widespread micronutrient deficiencies, including iron deficiency anaemia, which affects both children and pregnant women.
