Data-driven policy intelligence across health, climate action, and social justice — turning evidence into actionable decisions for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh ranks 4th globally in the burden of childhood lead exposure. Recent research reveals that all children tested in several districts exceed WHO safety thresholds, with informal battery recycling operations driving a silent epidemic affecting cognitive development and long-term health outcomes.
Source: UNICEF, Pure Earth, Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, 2024
Bite-sized findings on how the world is changing — published regularly by the DeepLab research team.
Analysis of National TB Control Program data shows significant regional variation, with Chittagong division reporting 182 cases per 100,000 population — nearly three times higher than Khulna.
Poor healthcare access, malnutrition, and delayed diagnosis in remote areas contribute to delayed treatment initiation, reducing cure rates from 92% nationally to just 68% in hard-to-reach haor communities.
Continue reading →Over 25 million Bangladeshis continue to consume groundwater with arsenic levels exceeding WHO safe limits. Northern regions show highest prevalence, with 68% of wells contaminated above 10 µg/L threshold.
Chronic arsenic exposure drives elevated rates of skin lesions, respiratory disease, and multiple cancers. Comprehensive mapping shows urgent need for alternative water sources in affected areas.
Continue reading →Bangladesh has increased total healthcare facilities from 1,200 to 2,100 since 2015 — a 75% expansion. Urban areas now have 8.2 hospitals per 100,000 residents versus just 1.5 in rural areas.
Unequal facility density contributes to extended travel times (2+ hours in remote areas) and delays in accessing emergency care for obstetric complications and severe infections.
Continue reading →In-depth analysis on health equity, climate resilience, and poverty alleviation — published regularly by the DeepLab research team.
Routine vaccination is one of Bangladesh's greatest public health successes. We examine four decades of data to understand how expanded immunization transformed child survival — and where coverage gaps still remain.
Bangladesh has cut maternal deaths in half over the past two decades through expanded prenatal care and skilled birth attendance. However, rural and coastal districts still lag behind urban centers, with significant disparities in access to emergency obstetric care.
A remarkable achievement in gender equality: Bangladesh has transformed school enrollment patterns, with girls now exceeding boys in secondary education. We analyze the drivers of this shift and its implications for economic opportunity.
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"Aggressive tobacco control vs outdoor air pollution — which deserves priority when one costs tax revenue?"
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