Critical Staff Shortages Threaten Family Planning

Bangladesh has long been hailed internationally for its achievements in maternal and child health as well as population control. However, in recent years, a growing shortage of frontline personnel within the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) has begun to jeopardise these successes. According to official statistics, approximately 28 per cent of all approved posts within the directorate remain vacant. The situation is even more acute at district and union levels, where vacancy rates range from 28 to 45 per cent in many areas.

The impact of these vacancies is directly felt in citizen services. Family Welfare Assistants, midwives, and Family Planning Inspectors are responsible for distributing contraceptives, providing care to pregnant women and newborns, and conducting health education at community level. When staff shortages force these workers to shoulder multiple roles alone, the quality and reach of these essential services inevitably suffer.

Vacancy Statistics (November 2025)

District-level data highlights the crisis further. In Rajshahi, nearly 36 per cent of posts remain unfilled, while Faridpur has 39 per cent vacancies, with 8 out of 33 critical positions entirely unstaffed. In the hill districts, Khagrachhari faces a 44 per cent vacancy rate, and Gaibandha 38 per cent, leaving routine health and family planning activities severely disrupted.

Prolonged Recruitment Processes

Officials cite protracted recruitment procedures as a principal cause. The last recruitment notice, issued in 2020 for 36 categories, has resulted in appointments for only nine categories over five years; the remaining 27 remain pending due to delayed approvals and legal complexities.

Mir Sajedur Rahman, Director (Administration) of the DGFP, confirmed that a new recruitment framework has been submitted to the ministry. Once approved, a nationwide vacancy survey will precede the next round of appointments. Nevertheless, he warned that immediate resolution of the current shortages and consequent service gaps for marginalised communities is unlikely.

Additionally, proposed reforms by the Health Sector Reform Commission—including the merger of three directorates into a ‘Primary Health and Public Health Directorate’—have raised concerns among officials. Questions over recruitment procedures, promotions, and operational clarity in the new structure remain unresolved.

Bangladesh’s decades-long public health achievements now hinge on swift policy action and efficient recruitment, lest years of progress in maternal, child, and population health be undermined.