Bangladesh is preparing to launch a transitional health initiative to ensure uninterrupted family planning and maternal healthcare services nationwide, with the project scheduled to be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today for approval.

The move comes as the government seeks to prevent disruptions to essential community-based services following the conclusion of the 4th Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Programme.

The new project – titled “Completion of Essential Family Planning, Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health Services under the Concluded 4th Sector Programme” – will be fully funded by the government. It involves Tk1,663.53 crore and will be implemented by the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) from July 2025 to June 2026.

It aims to safeguard Bangladesh’s achievements in population control, reproductive health, and maternal care during the transition period.

A senior planning official told the Daily Sun that the programme will be implemented across all 64 districts, covering every upazila, municipality and city corporation.

It will continue family planning and maternal services, adolescent reproductive health support, community outreach, and contraceptive distribution, while maintaining logistics, warehousing, utilities, transport, digital systems and operational support for field workers

DGFP officials stressed that uninterrupted community visits, contraceptive availability, and round-the-clock maternal services are crucial to sustaining the nation’s reproductive health progress.

The health ministry has highlighted that the project has been structured to avoid duplication with development partner-funded programmes. The World Bank-supported Climate Responsive Reproductive Health and System Strengthening Project will continue separately, with distinct staffing and activities. Manpower proposals for this project have already been submitted to the Finance Division for approval.

A significant portion of the funding will be used for contraceptive and medicine procurement, medical equipment, digital health systems, logistics, training and communication activities.

The project will also cover facility maintenance, outsourcing of essential support staff, and supply chain strengthening, including support to the Bangladesh Association for Voluntary Sterilisation (BAVS).

Officials said all procurement will strictly follow public procurement rules and market-rate verification to ensure transparency and efficiency.

According to project documents, the initiative will play a vital role in advancing Bangladesh’s reproductive, maternal and child-health agenda and achieving Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-Being).

It aligns with the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, the Perspective Plan 2021-2041, and the government's broader long-term health sector vision.

The Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) reviewed the proposal on 18 June 2025 and recommended approval following revisions. The Planning Commission also endorsed the project, noting that continuation of universal access to family planning and maternal health services is a national priority.

As the project is fully government-funded and exceeds Tk50 crore, ECNEC approval is required under government development project guidelines.

Health experts said the project is timely, given inflation, currency pressures and global economic challenges that could pose risks to low-income families.

Any interruption in reproductive health services could reverse gains in reducing maternal mortality, fertility rates and the incidence of early pregnancies, they warned.

“This programme is an essential safeguard during the transition to the next sector plan,” a senior planning official said, adding, “Community-based services are lifelines for women, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.”

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