The actual number of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic was much higher than the figures published by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

This claim has been made by researchers from the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). 

According to them, deaths of individuals who did not come to hospitals or who suffered from all symptoms of COVID-19 are not included in the official statistics.

They conducted two separate studies in Sitakunda and Dhaka North City Corporation areas.

Additionally, the medical and public health journal The Lancet stated that an estimated 413,000 excess deaths occurred in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 period of 2020 and 2021. None of this information was recorded.

Bangladesh reported its first COVID-19 death on March 18, 2020. Since then, the number of deaths rapidly increased day by day, alongside a continuous struggle for survival.

About five years later, COVID-19 is again showing its ominous presence. According to DGHS data, four people have died from COVID-19 in the country this year. As of June 15, a total of 29,503 people have died from COVID-19.

Prior to this, 2024 saw zero COVID-19 deaths. In 2023, 37 people died, and in 2022, 1,368 people died. The remaining 28,094 total COVID-19 deaths occurred in 2020-21.

The DGHS`s statistics during the pandemic differed from the reality. ICDDR,B researchers claim that the actual number of deaths during that time was much higher than what was reported.

Two separate studies on COVID-19 deaths were conducted in Sitakunda, Chattogram, and Dhaka North City Corporation areas.

According to them, government figures only include deaths that occurred in hospitals. Information on deaths of individuals who did not come to hospitals or who suffered from all symptoms of COVID-19 is not present in official statistics.

Furthermore, on March 10, 2022, The Lancet, a medical and public health journal, published excess mortality estimates, stating that 413,000 excess deaths occurred in Bangladesh in 2020 and 2021 alone.

Dr. Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, a scientist at ICDDR,B, stated, "During the COVID period, especially in 2020, there were many excess deaths. Some were directly due to COVID, while others were indirectly related to the COVID period.

Many instances occurred where someone was suffering from COVID but was not diagnosed for some reason. Therefore, that information did not appear in government records."

Given this reality and the DGHS statistics, did the then-government conceal COVID-19 death data?

In response to this question, ICDDR,B researchers say that not all COVID-19 deaths were recorded in the past. 

They added, "We don`t know if the government concealed information. However, the government reported based on their own methods at that time."

Meanwhile, Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman urges for a review of other death data in addition to just COVID-19 confirmed deaths even now.

The research on COVID-19 deaths in Sitakunda was published in the Journal of Global Health in 2024, and the research on deaths in Dhaka North City Corporation was published this year.