Amidst a global surge in cancer cases, Bangladesh faces a frightening challenge with predictions indicating that cancer cases may double in the country by 2050.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a 6.98% rise in cancer deaths in Bangladesh in 2022 compared to 2020 with 167,256 new cases recorded.
In 2022, a total of 116,598 people died of cancer in the country. Health officials, however, said the actual number may be lower.

“It's estimation. So, the actual scenario may not be always correlated with it. But there’s no doubt that cancer is a big problem here in our country and it’s increasing,” Prof Mohammad Robed Amin, line director of Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told the Daily Sun.

He explained that the WHO report was prepared based on the available population dynamics in other countries in this region since there is no ‘cancer surveillance’ system in Bangladesh. “So, you won’t know the real scenario.”
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) prepared the report for the WHO based on data from 185 countries.
Of the 36 types of cancers analysed in the report, it listed oesophagus, lip, oral cavity and lung cancers as the top five most common types in Bangladesh.
The WHO attributed key causal factors to adulterated food, sedentary lifestyle, pollution, and tobacco/alcohol use.
To prevent the projected surge in cancer cases, the UN health agency has called for a comprehensive national cancer control strategy, data collection, and unified programmes to counter the escalating trend.
It has also proposed solutions, including nationwide preventive campaigns, increased government funding, gender-specific interventions, and international collaboration to share resources and best practices.
On the contrary, the preparation in the country is ‘alarmingly inadequate’ and it lacks proper strategy, experts say.
NO COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY
Cancer is the leading cause among all non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, which is attributed to multiple risk factors.
Inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, use of tobacco, low physical activity, obesity and binge drinking are among the risk factors for NCDs in Bangladeshi adults.
According to the Bangladesh NCD Risk Factor Survey 2018, the majority (70.9%) have one or two risk factors and a substantial proportion of people has three or more risk factors.
In this context, experts have stressed the need for early detection through nationwide cancer screening.
However, access to proper cancer detection is inadequate countrywide.
“Typically, patients become aware of their cancer when they arrive at major hospitals after enduring prolonged sufferings, initiating their treatment,” Prof Robed Amin said, adding that early detection facility is still inadequate in the country.
Regarding the government's initiatives, he emphasized its visionary approach to addressing cancer.
As an example, he highlighted the plan to establish cancer hospitals in all eight divisional cities across the country that are expected to be completed within the next year.
“Cancer registry, screening, diagnosis, or treatment—everything will be available in these hospitals. When we’ll get more data from these hospitals, we’ll be able to plan accordingly,” Robed Amin said.
About the preventive measures, he emphasised that the DGHS cannot tackle it alone. "This is a multi-sectoral issue involving safe food, healthy lifestyle, and addressing factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption. The majority of preventive efforts need to be carried out by non-health authorities."
“And there’s still a big gap here,” the DGHS official added.
Prof Dr Habibullah Talukder Ruskin, former head of Cancer Epidemiology at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH), said otherwise. "The prevention of cancer is primarily the health department's responsibility with other departments playing a supporting role," he said.
Ruskin, who also serves as the coordinator of the Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum, highlighted the lack of proper understanding of cancer prevention among oncologists and individuals engaged in the policymaking process.
"In reality, oncologists need to advocate for the right policies. Unfortunately, there’s a difference of opinions among oncologists. So, there’s no national strategy on cancer yet," he said.
NICRH publishes cancer registry data regularly. Ruskin, however, said this is inadequate.
He emphasised the need for a nationwide cancer screening and cancer registry at the earliest opportunity. "But, no proposals made to this end have been taken into consideration over the last one decade," he added.