, Nov. 16 -- New findings reveal that 38% of children aged 12-59 months and nearly 8% of pregnant women have blood lead levels above safe thresholds, with Dhaka (65%) most affected.

Lead poisoning threatens brain development, with impact across socio-economic groups; over half of affected children in the richest quintile and 30% in poorer groups.

The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), in partnership with UNICEF and other partners, released the preliminary findings of MICS 2025, the most comprehensive survey on children and women in Bangladesh, on Sunday.

BBS Director General Mohammed Mizanur Rahman and UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Rana Flowers were present.

The survey reveals that 1.2 million more children are subjected to ...