Bangladesh

On January 9, 2026, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), publicly voiced deep concerns about the country’s deteriorating security situation ahead of the polls, expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of law enforcement agencies.

A groundbreaking new report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) reveals that the region requires approximately USD 12.065 trillion from 2020 to 2050 to adequately fund climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Bangladesh ranks among the world’s most climate‑vulnerable countries while contributing less than one per cent of global GHG emissions, facing recurring climate induced disasters that damage agriculture, infrastructure and livelihoods, with annual climate finance needs estimated at over USD 26 billion, especially for adaptation and loss and damage.

In the first quarter of 2025, Bangladesh reported only 641 malaria cases and one death – a dramatic fall from the 13,099 cases and six deaths recorded in 2024, and a far cry from the 84,690 cases and 154 fatalities seen in 2008 at the height of the country’s malaria burden.

In a landmark economic achievement, Bangladesh has recorded its highest ever annual remittance inflows in calendar year 2025, with workers abroad sending home a staggering US $32.82 billion – a level not seen before in the nation’s history.

The Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2025 underscores that tobacco industry influence remains a formidable barrier to public health policy in Bangladesh and worldwide. While some countries demonstrate notable progress, Bangladesh’s mid-to-high interference score suggests that institutional reforms and stricter safeguards are urgently needed.

International human rights organisations have urged Dhaka to adopt urgent measures to curb hate speech, bolster protections for journalists, and prosecute individuals involved in mob violence.

International development partners, including the World Bank, have also entered the picture with initiatives designed to boost jobs and trade, although such efforts are longer-term in nature and their impact on immediate job creation is still unfolding.