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The rate of exclusive breastfeeding among infants under six months in Bangladesh has declined significantly, raising concern among UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025, the proportion of infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months fell to 56.6% in 2025, down from 62.6% in 2019.
The rate of breastfeeding initiated within the first hour after birth also dropped sharply, from 46.6% to 30.4%.
UNICEF and WHO have called for stronger measures to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, stressing that every mother needs adequate support to breastfeed successfully.
The two organisations recommend that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue alongside complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.
