In Bangladesh, a simple question echoes across rural villages and low-income city neighborhoods: Does your child eat at least one egg a week? Increasingly, the answer is a painful no—a stark indicator of rising malnutrition among children and a broader economic decline gripping the nation.

The Nutritional Crisis

Eggs are often called a “nutritional powerhouse” and are vital for children’s development, especially for brain function, bone growth, and immunity. The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend introducing one egg daily after six months of age. Yet, recent data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF reveals that nearly 26.4 million children under 14—over 60%—don’t get even one egg per week.

Surveys show that 75% of children in low-income urban families and 65% in rural areas go without eggs, relying only on rare festive meals for protein intake. This has contributed to Bangladesh’s high rate of child malnutrition, with 36% of children under five suffering from it—much of it linked to protein deficiency.

Eggs Too Expensive, Incomes Too Low

In mid-2024, a single egg cost 12–14 taka. Now, it’s 15–18 taka. Meanwhile, GDP growth has dropped from 6.7% to 3.3%, jobs have vanished, and household incomes have shrunk. Families are cutting essential food items—like eggs, milk, and fish—to manage costs.

Experts warn that if this trend continues, up to 80% of children may be unable to eat even one egg per week within the next six to eight months. This situation is compounded by inflation, political uncertainty, reduced exports, and stagnant remittance flows.

What Can Be Done?

Bangladesh urgently needs a national nutrition intervention. Neighboring India has implemented mid-day meal programs that include eggs 3–4 days a week. Bangladesh’s attempt in 2015 was short-lived due to budget constraints. A new, sustainable national program is needed—providing subsidized or free eggs to primary school children.

The egg shortage isn’t just a food problem. It’s a warning sign—a signal that without targeted action, Bangladesh risks raising a generation too weak to carry the country forward.