TUHIN SHUBHRA ADHIKARY

At least 16 people died of malaria in 2025, the highest in nine years, raising concerns over the country’s goal of achieving zero malaria deaths by 2027.

A total of 10,162 malaria cases were recorded last year, which is lower than the previous year but still a significant number given the country hopes to eliminate the mosquito-borne disease by 2030.

The issue of malaria deaths came into focus following the death of Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman from malaria on Friday, ahead of World Malaria Day on April 25.

Although 460 malaria cases were recorded in the first three months of the year, Mahbubur is the first to die from the disease, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The 58-year-old bureaucrat was admitted to a private hospital in Dhaka on April 13 due to a decrease in blood platelet levels. Later, he was diagnosed with malaria, according to a press release from the ministry.

Mahbubur had recently visited an African country and might have contracted malaria there, said DGHS officials. The directorate will conduct an “oral autopsy” to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

According to DGHS data, a total of 10,158 cases were recorded from 13 districts last year. In addition, the central reporting team recorded four more cases, taking the total to 10,162.

Of these districts, the highest number of cases -- 5,023 -- was recorded in Bandarban, followed by 3,614 in Rangamati, 845 in Cox’s Bazar and 534 in Khagrachhari.

This means 10,016 cases, or 98.56 percent of the total, were recorded in these four districts.

A total of 16 deaths were reported last year, of which 11 were recorded in hospitals of Chattogram, two in the medical facilities of Cox’s Bazar and one each in Khagrachhari and Rangamati. One additional death was recorded by the central team in Dhaka.

Last year’s death toll is the highest since 2016, when 17 deaths were recorded, according to DGHS data. Between 2017 and 2024, the number of deaths ranged from six to 14.

A DGHS official said six deaths were reported from the Rohingya camps last year and hence the fatality rate is relatively high.

Between January and March, a total of 460 cases were recorded from five districts: Bandarban (214), Rangamari (179), Cox’s Bazar (49), Khagrachari (13) and Chattogram (5).

However, the numbers usually see a sharp rise during the peak malaria season, May to August, officials said.

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