DHAKA, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS) - Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) are widely recognised as a core pillar of human rights, playing a vital role in health promotion, gender equality and social justice worldwide.

It encompasses a wide range of issues related to human sexual and reproductive health, including access to birth control methods, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and the fundamental right to comprehensive sexual education

Driven by the government’s public welfare initiatives, awareness of reproductive health among women in Bangladesh is steadily increasing, contributing to notable progress in maternal and child health. Despite these achievements, experts note that further efforts are still needed in several key areas to ensure inclusive and sustained gains.

Public health experts and other stakeholders are saying that many women in rural as well as urban areas are now regularly visiting health centers, using family planning methods and following menstrual hygiene rules.
 
According to experts, these changes have been witnessing following public and private initiatives to expand healthcare, social media campaigns and increasing women's education rates. Earlier, there was no open discussion about reproductive health, now people from the younger generation to housewives are attaching importance on these issues.
 
According to the Directorate General of Family Planning, the rate of contraceptive use among rural women has increased significantly over the time. The rate of using sanitary napkins for menstrual health care, especially among adolescents and young women, has also increased remarkably compared to the previous years.
 
However, many women are still not receiving necessary reproductive health services due to poverty, superstitions and lack of adequate healthcare, said the officials concerned.
 
Reproductive health expert Dr Nazneen Ahmed said, currently, women in different regions of Bangladesh are becoming aware of their rights. As a result, remarkable success has been achieved in all fields, which has also touched the health and reproductive sectors, she added.
 
She said the initiatives taken by the government have been successful mainly due to the awareness of the citizens. In this regard, the role of women is especially commendable as they have learned to keep pace with the times instead of treating them in traditional ways.
 
Sources said that despite being a populous country, Bangladesh has made significant progress in population control. A mother now gives birth to an average of two children, compared to five decades ago when mothers used to give birth to an average of six children. Bangladesh is benefiting from the decline in the birth rate, which has led to a decline in reproductive health.
 
It is mentionable that the main problems of the country after independence were population and poverty. Bangladesh has shown success in both these areas. The success in population control has come mainly because of the ability to reduce the total fertility rate (TFR). As a result, women are getting more opportunities for education and are able to spend more time for earning.
 
Public health experts said one of the goals of countries that want to control or reduce population is to reduce TFR. Bangladesh has been able to reduce TFR continuously since independence.
 
According to World Bank statistics, in 1971, the TFR in Bangladesh was 6.9. That is, at that time, a mother in Bangladesh gave birth to an average of about seven children. In 1981, the TFR decreased to 6.2. After that, it continued to decrease. World Bank statistics said that the current TFR is 2. Although the latest Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey said that the TFR is now 2.3.
 
The country's first five-year plan was adopted in 1973-1978. In it, the issue of population control was given importance. In 1976, the first population policy was formulated in the country. 
After that, the government gave special importance to the population in all five-year plans.
 
Dr. Nazneen Akhter, who works on maternal and child health said, “Health, population and nutrition programmes have also been given a lot of emphasis. The population policy has been updated several times in line with the times. This has made people aware. Reproductive health has also improved.”
 
Sources said that the field workers of the Family Planning Department have played an important role in birth control in the country. Apart from their relentless work, the media has also played a major role in the issue of birth control. Many small and large private organizations or NGOs were associated with this effort across the country. The campaign of small families, happy families was widespread. Whether it is a boy or a girl, two children are enough was also very popular. At the time of independence, eight percent of able-bodied couples used birth control methods, now that rate has increased to 62 percent.
 
Professor Mohammad Moinul Islam from the Department of Population Sciences at Dhaka University said, “Women's education and women's empowerment have worked in favor of having fewer children. People have reduced their families thinking of economic progress.”
 
Experts believe that TFR has had a positive impact on women's health, not just the economy.
 
Women's health expert Prof. Rowshan Ara Begum told this reporter that Bangladesh’s declining total fertility rate (TFR) is emerging as a quiet catalyst for women’s empowerment, opening new doors to education, employment and improved health outcomes. 

As women have fewer children, the risks associated with repeated pregnancies and childbirth are diminishing, allowing them to better access social and economic opportunities and reap the broader welfare benefits of demographic change, she added. 
However, TFR is not the same or has not decreased equally in all areas of Bangladesh. TFR is higher in Sylhet, Chattogram and Mymensingh divisions.
 
According to government statistic, the country's population is about 17 crore. If the TFR can be reduced, the population pressure on the country will not increase. Bangladesh was able to control its population mainly by reducing the TFR. But in the last decade, that progress has stalled.
 
From 2011 to the present, the TFR has not decreased or has decreased very slightly.
 
In this regard, Professor Rowshan Ara Begum said, “Child marriage is very high in the country. Again, the TFR is high among young women.”
 
“The current problems of population control are well known. Birth control programs should be taken up in backward areas or special populations. The unmet demand for birth control products should be eliminated,” added Professor Mohammad Moinul Islam.