Nearly 10 Million People in Bangladesh Living with Hepatitis B and C

Nearly 10 million people in Bangladesh are living with hepatitis B and C infections, while viral hepatitis-related liver cirrhosis and liver cancer cause an estimated 20,000 to 21,000 deaths every year, according to health experts.

The scale of the disease places Bangladesh among the world's 10 countries with the highest number of deaths linked to hepatitis. Specialists say the situation is particularly concerning because a large majority of infected people remain unaware that they are carrying the virus.


Professor Dr Md Shahinul Alam, chairman of the Department of Hepatology at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and president of the Hepatology Society, said public ignorance and a lack of awareness are among the biggest barriers to preventing and eliminating hepatitis.


According to him, around 90 percent of people infected with hepatitis B or C do not know that they carry the virus. As a result, many patients remain untreated for years while the infection gradually damages their liver.


Hepatitis B and C can remain largely silent for a long period. An infected person may continue living a seemingly normal life for 10 to 20 years while progressive liver damage takes place without obvious symptoms.

By the time the disease is detected, some patients may already have developed serious complications, including liver cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer. This delayed diagnosis makes early testing and treatment particularly important, health experts say.

Professor Shahinul Alam stressed the importance of expanding testing among the general population. He said the goal should be for every adult in Bangladesh to undergo hepatitis B and C screening at least once.


Early detection can help identify infected individuals before severe liver damage develops and allow them to receive appropriate medical care. It can also help reduce the risk of unknowingly transmitting the virus to others.


Hepatitis B and C are major causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Without timely diagnosis and appropriate management, long-term infection can progressively damage the liver and increase the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.


Experts say Bangladesh faces an additional challenge because many people seek medical attention only after symptoms become severe. Since chronic hepatitis can remain undetected for years, relying solely on symptoms is not sufficient to identify infected individuals.


Greater public awareness is therefore considered essential for reducing the country's hepatitis burden. Health professionals believe people need clearer information about how hepatitis spreads, who should undergo testing and why early diagnosis matters.


The high number of undiagnosed infections also creates a broader public health concern. People who are unaware of their infection may not take necessary precautions or seek treatment, increasing the possibility of transmission and allowing the disease to remain hidden within communities.

Expanding access to affordable testing could therefore play an important role in the country's efforts to control viral hepatitis. Experts also emphasise the importance of ensuring that people who test positive can access appropriate follow-up care and treatment.

Professor Shahinul Alam's call for nationwide adult screening reflects the need for a proactive approach to hepatitis prevention. Instead of waiting for patients to develop advanced liver disease, routine testing could help identify infections at an earlier stage.


With millions estimated to be affected and tens of thousands of deaths occurring each year from serious hepatitis-related complications, health specialists say greater awareness, wider testing and timely medical intervention are urgently needed.


They believe that strengthening hepatitis screening and prevention programmes could help Bangladesh reduce avoidable deaths from liver cirrhosis and liver cancer and make significant progress toward controlling viral hepatitis as a public health threat.