38% Children Hit by Lead Poisoning in Bangladesh, Alarming Rise in Child Risks

Over 38% of Bangladeshi children aged 12–59 months now have unsafe blood lead levels, according to the preliminary findings released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNICEF, which also flagged sharp rises in wasting, child labour, and maternal health risks.UNICEF Representative Rana Flowers said the findings capture “both progress and deepening threats,” noting that while child mortality and child marriage rates have improved, lead poisoning, malnutrition and child labour are depriving millions of children of their potential.The survey shows Dhaka is the worst affected by lead exposure, with 65% of children recording dangerous levels. Lead contamination spans all wealth groups—affecting over half of children in the richest households and 30% in poorer families.Malnutrition has worsened: wasting increased from 9.8% in 2019 to 12.9% in 2025, while maternal anaemia stands at 52.8%. The adolescent birth rate rose from 83 to 92 per 1,000 girls, underscoring growing maternal health challenges.Child ...

• 17 Nov 2025