Nurses in Bangladesh: Indispensable to healthcare, yet treated like servants

For Shila Akhter (not her real name), a nurse working at a private hospital in Dhaka, the hardest part of her job is not the long shifts or the exhaustion. 

"It's when people treat us as if we are nothing more than servants to doctors. We are trained professionals, but society doesn't always see us that way," she said. 

Shila speaks softly, but her words carry the weight of years of frustration. She has considered leaving for work abroad, but family ties have kept her here for now. 

"Some patients and their families do respect us deeply," she adds. "But too often, we are invisible —  until something goes wrong."

Her story echoes the paradox of nursing in Bangladesh: their work is indispensable yet largely unrewarded. They are critical to treatment outcomes but are often burdened by low salaries and social and professional neglect. 

Respect matters as much as money. If society cannot see our worth, then the brightest students will never choose this profession. We take care of everyone. All we ask is that someone takes care of us too.

Shila Akhter, Nurse

While nurses worldwide are in high demand, Bangladeshi nurses have to navigate a local environment where stigma, institutional barriers and a lack of appreciation are daily realities.

Growing demand for nurses

Nursing is no longer confined to bedside care. Globally, nurses are at the forefront of intensive care, surgical support, mental health services, maternal health, and community outreach. They lead research projects, teach at universities and even shape national health policies. 

Bangladesh is no exception. The Public Service Commission recently appointed over 3,500 nurses, an indication of rising demand. 

Private hospitals, NGOs, and international organisations also absorb thousands of nurses every year.

And the opportunities extend far beyond Bangladesh's borders. 

From the US to Canada, from the Gulf states to Europe and Australia, Bangladeshi nurses are increasingly becoming part of the global workforce. 

"If you are well-trained and can pass the international licensing exams, the doors are wide open," said Farzana Hossain, a 22-year-old trainee at a nursing institute in Mohammadpur. She dreams of working in the US after graduation. "I see seniors moving abroad, building good lives for themselves. I want that too, not just for money, but to grow in a place where nurses are respected."

Her optimism reflects the profession's global appeal. 

The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, the world will face a shortfall of 4.5 million nurses. 

Countries like the Philippines and India have already positioned themselves as major exporters of skilled nurses, turning this profession into a source of foreign remittances. 

Bangladesh, however, is still struggling to prepare its workforce at the scale and standard needed. 

Structural bottlenecks in education

According to data by the health ministry, for the 2024–2025 period, some 60,759 nurses hold a Diploma in Nursing Science and Midwifery, while 8,745 possess a Diploma in Midwifery. Additionally, 1,687 have a Diploma in Orthopaedic Nursing. 

At the undergraduate level, 13,009 nurses hold a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing, and 10,213 have earned a Post-Basic BSc in Nursing and Public Health Nursing. 

A smaller group of 76 professionals hold a Post-Basic BSc in Midwifery qualification. At the postgraduate level, 4,498 individuals have completed either a Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing or a Master of Public Health (MPH). Furthermore, 16 hold a PhD in Nursing, while 26 possess a PhD in Public Health.

In 2018, Bangladesh established its first higher education institution for nursing — the National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education and Research in Mugda, Dhaka. The institute offers a Master's degree in Nursing, provides online teacher training, conducts research activities, and runs community nursing care programmes.

Additionally, four nursing colleges have received administrative approval to introduce the Master of Science in Nursing course.

Yet despite the high number of nursing colleges, both public and private, higher education opportunities in nursing remain limited and tightly controlled. Only a handful of public universities offer bachelor's and master's programmes in nursing, with seats far fewer than the demand. 

The Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC), instead of expanding pathways, often acts as a gatekeeper, critics argue, keeping control concentrated in a few public institutions.

The result is frustration among thousands of students. "We work so hard, but if we want to study further, the opportunities just aren't there," said Farzana. "That's why so many of us look abroad."

Professor Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government, recently acknowledged the bottleneck. In a speech earlier this year, he warned that while global demand for nurses is soaring, Bangladesh is failing to seize the opportunity due to outdated regulations and insufficient training facilities. 

At the same time, fake certificates and low-quality training centres have tarnished the credibility of Bangladeshi nurses in some markets. Without reforms, the country risks losing out on both economic and human potential.

Persistent myths

Even as the profession modernises, outdated stereotypes linger. Many still believe nursing is only for women, a view that increasingly collides with reality. 

Male nurses are joining the field in growing numbers, particularly because international markets value them highly. 

Others assume nurses are little more than assistants to doctors, ignoring their expertise in specialised fields such as intensive care, cardiology, neuroscience and nursing management.

These misconceptions also influence the way nurses are treated in hospitals. "There are doctors who treat us with respect, like partners," Shila acknowledges. "But there are others who see us as subordinates, as if our only job is to obey. That mindset has to change if nursing is to grow as a profession here."

Stories of inspiration

Despite these hurdles, the success stories are undeniable. Take Nahida Akter, who began her career at Dhaka Nursing College and went on to earn a doctorate in nursing at Pennsylvania State University in the US. 

Today she is a registered nurse in the US, earning recognition for her contributions to patient care and research. Similarly, Sadiah Ivy from Sylhet pursued a doctorate in Japan and now teaches at Hiroshima University. Their journeys illustrate how Bangladeshi nurses can reach global leadership positions when given the chance.

Back in Dhaka, these stories serve as motivation for students like Farzana. "I read about them and I think, why not me? If they can do it, so can I," she said with a determined smile.

The demand for care at home

Yet while many nurses aspire to leave, Bangladesh itself desperately needs them. With a population of over 170 million, the country has one of the lowest nurse-to-patient ratios in the world. 

The demand is especially acute in maternal and child health, geriatric care, and long-term management of chronic diseases. As private hospitals expand and technology transforms healthcare — from robotic surgeries to telemedicine — the role of skilled nurses is becoming ever more critical.

But the mismatch between demand and recognition creates a vicious cycle. 

Talented nurses either leave the profession or migrate abroad, while those who remain often feel undervalued. 

Shila sighs as she reflects on her own position. "Sometimes I think, if I go abroad, my work will be seen and rewarded. But if all of us leave, who will take care of our people here?"

The way forward

Experts argue that Bangladesh must reform nursing education, expanding high-quality bachelor's and master's programmes in both public and private institutions. Aligning curricula with international standards, offering credible certification, and opening pathways for professional growth could help the country meet both domestic needs and global demand.

Equally important is social recognition. Nurses in Bangladesh need to be seen not as "assistants" but as central actors in healthcare delivery. "Respect matters as much as money," said Shila. "If society cannot see our worth, then the brightest students will never choose this profession."

Farzana, however, remains hopeful. She speaks of her training days in Mohammadpur, where she and her classmates worked through sleepless nights learning to manage emergencies. "We laugh together, we cry together, but above all we know this is a noble profession," she said. "One day, I hope I will wear my uniform in another country, and people will know that I come from Bangladesh and I am proud to be a nurse."

Her words point to the heart of the dilemma. Nursing in Bangladesh is a career of immense potential — for service, for personal growth, and for global mobility. But until the country learns to value its nurses at home, many will continue to look abroad for the recognition they deserve.

As Shila's voice trails off at the end of her shift, she sums it up with weary clarity, "We take care of everyone. All we ask is that someone takes care of us too."