More than 15.3 million people in Bangladesh are facing acute food insecurity, with the number projected to rise to 18.1 million by the end of 2026, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis.
The findings were presented at a high-level workshop in Dhaka organized by the Ministry of Food through its Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU), in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Action Against Hunger, Save the Children and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).
The workshop brought together senior government officials, representatives of development and humanitarian organizations, academics and civil society members to review the findings on July 13, according to a press release on Wednesday.
The analysis found that around 15% of the assessed population—equivalent to 15.3 million people—faced acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between May and August 2026. Of them, about 483,000 were classified under IPC Phase 4, indicating emergency levels of food insecurity.
The situation is expected to worsen between September and December, with the number of people facing acute food insecurity projected to increase to 18.1 million. Nearly 787,000 people are forecast to face emergency levels of food insecurity during the period.
The analysis identified the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the haor region, several coastal districts, and the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char as the areas most vulnerable to food insecurity.
State Minister for Food Md Abdul Bari said the government places the highest importance on evidence-based analysis to strengthen food security and build resilience against future crises.
"The IPC findings will help improve the targeting of resources and strengthen coordinated interventions for vulnerable communities facing climate and economic pressures," he said.
Food Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana said data-driven decision-making remains essential for effective policymaking.
He said the IPC findings would serve as an important guide for policymakers, development partners and humanitarian agencies in designing targeted programmes, strengthening food and nutrition security, and enhancing disaster resilience.
Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau Dr Mohammad Zakaria stressed the need for stronger collaboration among the government, development partners, NGOs, UN agencies, research institutions and other stakeholders to address food insecurity.
The report attributed the worsening food insecurity to adverse weather, recurring floods, inflation, rising food and fuel prices, global supply chain disruptions and broader economic pressures, which have eroded purchasing power and made access to adequate and nutritious food increasingly difficult.
Participants at the workshop called for expanding life-saving food assistance, strengthening shock-responsive social protection, investing in climate-resilient agriculture, restoring livelihoods, and improving disaster preparedness and early warning systems.
FAO Representative in Bangladesh Dr Jiaoqun Shi said the findings underscored the urgent need to strengthen agriculture and food systems in areas repeatedly affected by floods, cyclones and other climate-related disasters.
"Investing in climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable livelihoods and local food production is critical not only for addressing today's food insecurity but also for protecting vulnerable communities against future crises," he said.
WFP Representative and Country Director in Bangladesh Coco Ushiyama said one of the key strengths of the IPC analysis is its ability to identify populations most at risk before conditions deteriorate.
She said many of the areas highlighted in the report are already experiencing heavy rainfall and flooding, particularly the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where WFP has activated anticipatory assistance while supporting the government's shock-responsive social protection initiatives.
Ushiyama added that the IPC analysis also plays a vital role in improving preparedness, enabling more effective humanitarian responses and strengthening community resilience against future shocks.
The Ministry of Food and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to working together to address immediate food needs, strengthen resilience to future disasters and ensure sustainable food security for all.
