An acute shortage of contraceptives has hit the country as more than one-third of the 487 upazilas have run out of all types of government-supplied contraceptives, raising fears of a spike in unwanted or unplanned pregnancies.

The ongoing shortfall in the supply of medicines, family planning materials and the procurement of medical equipment is likely to ease soon as three related projects are scheduled to be placed before the ECNEC for approval today.

The government’s family planning efforts are likely to be seriously hindered as supplies of contraceptives at the field-level offices are running dangerously low.