A joint survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNICEF has found that 40% of Bangladeshi children have unsafe levels of lead in their blood, posing a serious threat to brain development and public health. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025, presented in Dhaka, revealed that 38% of children aged 12–59 months and 8% of pregnant women have lead levels exceeding safety limits, with Dhaka showing the highest contamination rates. The report also highlighted widespread water contamination, with over 80% of household water containing E. coli bacteria, despite high sanitation coverage. Additionally, child marriage and domestic violence remain prevalent, and child labor has risen to 9.2% among children aged 5–17. Experts at the seminar called for urgent inter-ministerial coordination to address lead pollution, water safety, and child protection, warning that these issues pose a ‘red flag’ for Bangladesh’s development.