Menstrual hygiene management in flood-affected Bangladesh: addressing socio-cultural barriers, infrastructure gaps, and policy responses

Abstract

Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to natural disasters due to its geographic location, with flooding being the most frequent and severe catastrophe. In 2024, heavy rains triggered widespread flooding across 11 districts, affecting approximately 1 million households and marooning around 4.9 million people in the northeast and southeast regions, resulting in 20 fatalities. Essential services and infrastructure suffered extensive damage, including the destruction of 26,584 water taps and 62,528 toilets. Women were disproportionately affected, with an estimated 2.54 million experiencing the impacts of the floods. These events highlight the recurring vulnerability of Bangladesh to flood disasters and underscore the urgent need for effective disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and targeted support for affected populations, particularly women and other vulnerable groups.