Photo: Collected

DHAKA, May 7, 2026 (BSS) – Thalassemia has emerged as a major public health concern in Bangladesh, with experts warning that around two crore people in the country carry the gene responsible for the hereditary blood disorder.

Health specialists say Bangladesh is among the thalassemia-prone countries in the region, and the disease is gradually turning into a “silent public health threat”.

According to estimates, about 6,000 to 8,000 children are born with thalassemia every year in the country, while the total number of patients currently stands at around 60,000 to 70,000.

Experts say thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder in which the body cannot produce sufficient or normal haemoglobin, leading to chronic anaemia and requiring regular blood transfusions for survival. 

They stress that the disease is not contagious but inherited from parents, making it largely preventable through awareness and screening.

Citing global data, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 250 million people worldwide carry the thalassemia gene. In Bangladesh, the carrier rate is about 10 to 12 percent of the population.

A review published in the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases by the Biomedical Research Foundation (BRF) shows that around 10.9 to 13.3 percent of people in Bangladesh are carriers, meaning nearly 1.7 to 2.2 crore people are carrying the gene.

The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) “National Thalassemia Survey 2024” reports an overall carrier rate of 11.4 percent, with regional variations. The highest prevalence was found in Rangpur (27.7 percent), followed by Rajshahi (11.3 percent), Chattogram (11.2 percent), Mymensingh (9.8 percent), Khulna and Dhaka (8.6 percent each), Barishal (7.3 percent) and Sylhet (4.8 percent).

Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation Vice Chairman Professor Dr Syeda Masuma Rahman said thalassemia is a hereditary disease caused by defective genes responsible for haemoglobin formation. If both parents are carriers, their child is at risk of being born with thalassemia.

She said symptoms usually appear within one to two years of birth, including poor growth, pale appearance, weakness, frequent infections, loss of appetite, weight loss, jaundice, irritability and abdominal swelling.

Emphasizing prevention over treatment, she said awareness and pre-marital screening such as CBC or genetic testing can significantly reduce the risk.

“A simple test before marriage can protect your future family,” she said, urging young people to take preventive measures and increase awareness to reduce future risk.