Bangladesh

The economic development in Bangladesh in recent years has lifted millions of people out of poverty, and Bangladesh has successfully reduced fertility rates and maternal mortality. But inequalities remain, especially between rural and urban areas. Access to sexual and reproductive health is limited, and violations of sexual rights are common. Abortion is available only under certain circumstances. Homosexuality is illegal and sexuality education very limited.

RFSU has partnerships with two organisations in Bangladesh.

Bandhu (Social Welfare Society)

is an organization that works for human rights and equal access to healthcare regardless of gender and sexual orientation. Bandhu is a national NGO in Bangladesh that was founded in 1997 and has worked with, among other issues, HIV and AIDS prevention. RFSU has, for the last couple of years, collaborated with Bandhu through the Sida backed LGBT network, "Alliance in South Asia". Bandhu works to support the rights of LGBT-persons and has provided healthcare services for men who have sex with men (MSM) for many years. RFSU's collaboration with Bandhu mainly consists of strengthening and developing Bandhu's capacity to identify and reach new groups in the LGBT community.

Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, (BLAST)

In 2015, RFSU started collaborating with Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, (BLAST). BLAST is a human rights organisation which provides people with legal assistance, and educates and advocates within the legal system about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).