, around 1,900 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2025. During the same period, more than 200 people died from the disease.){kind=link}
A growing trend of HIV infections among young people in Bangladesh has sparked fresh concern. According to recent data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), around 1,900 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2025. During the same period, more than 200 people died from the disease.
Most worrying is that a large proportion of the newly identified cases are unmarried young men and women. Statistics from the National AIDS/STD Control Programme show that about 42 percent of new infections in 2025 were among unmarried youth. The figure was around 31 percent the previous year. This sharp rise within just one year has alarmed public health experts.
Specialists say risky behavior is increasing among young people. Unprotected sex, multiple partners, lack of knowledge about a partner’s health status, and sharing needles during injection drug use are being identified as the main drivers of HIV transmission.
The situation is even more complex outside the capital. In districts such as Jashore, cases of HIV have also been reported among school and college students. Officials say that although curiosity is high at this age, awareness remains low, leading many to take risks without understanding the consequences.
The UNAIDS representative in Bangladesh noted that people under the age of 25 are more likely to engage in risk-taking behavior. Social taboos and feelings of shame often prevent young people from speaking openly about condom use or getting tested.
Doctors say that although HIV is not completely curable, people living with the virus can lead normal lives with regular medication, and the risk of transmitting the virus to others is greatly reduced. In reality, however, many young people delay testing due to fear of social stigma and humiliation, which complicates the situation further.
Psychologists believe that the influence of social media, easy access to technology, and the lack of open discussion within families are negatively affecting young people’s behavior.
Experts stress that to reduce HIV infections, reproductive and sexual health education must be introduced from the school level. At the same time, the media, families, and educational institutions need to work together to raise awareness. Social initiatives to keep young people away from risky behavior are now an urgent necessity.