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Some blood banks have seen collections fall to half compared with other months
Published : 23 Mar 2025, 02:15 AM
Mehrima, a 10-year-old identified with a single name, is suffering from thalassemia and requires a bag of blood every 25 days.
Unable to find a donor, her father Shahidul Islam visited Quantum Blood Bank in Dhaka’s Shantinagar on Wednesday for blood.
Shahidul, an electrician residing in Bashundhara Residential Area, while Mehrima stays with her mother in their hometown in Bhola. She travelled to Dhaka for her transfusion.
Speaking to bdnews24.com, Shahidul said finding a donor is usually easy, but during Ramadan, it becomes difficult.
He added, “I used to get blood from my friends, relatives or acquaintances. That helps reduce my expenses. But during Ramadan, people are reluctant to donate as fasting leaves them fatigued.
“That’s why I came to the blood bank, hoping they could arrange it somehow.”
The same situation has been observed in different blood banks in Dhaka.
Since the beginning of Ramadan, the number of blood donors has sharply decreased, leaving the banks struggling to meet the demand for blood.
There are no religious restrictions on donating blood while fasting, nor does it cause health issues.
Yet, due to a lack of awareness or fear, many avoid donating, causing a shortage of life-saving blood supplies every Ramadan.
Experts say raising awareness is crucial to maintaining regular blood donations during the holy month.
They stress that the health authorities must take steps to address the crisis.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Bangladesh requires at least one million bags of blood annually.
Experts, however, believe the actual demand is much higher, as many private blood banks do not report their data to the DGHS.
EXTENT OF THE CRISIS
Emran Sheikh came to Dhaka from Faridpur’s Nagarkanda with 6-year-old Ibrahim Sheikh just for blood.
Ibrahim, who suffers from thalassemia, requires a blood transfusion every 21 days.
It is already difficult to arrange blood in his area, and the situation becomes even more challenging during Ramadan.
“When we contact Quantum, they manage to arrange it. After having Sehri, I left early in the morning with my child. We’ll return home after the blood transfusion today,” he told bdnews24.com.
Due to the blood shortage, many surgeries cannot be performed on time.
Recipients with a negative blood type face this crisis more severely.
Khadija Akhter Tuli, a child admitted to Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital in Dhaka, was scheduled to undergo surgery on Mar 10.
She needed three bags of A-negative blood for the procedure, but the surgery had to be postponed repeatedly due to the unavailability of blood.
Khadija’s mother, Hasina Begum, told bdnews24.com: “The surgery didn’t happen because we couldn’t find the blood. I went to several places, crying and asking for help.
“Later, the bank staff managed to arrange the blood. The surgery happened [on Wednesday]. My daughter has been in a lot of pain these past few days.”
Shamima Nasreen Munni, coordinator of Quantum Voluntary Blood Donation Programme, told bdnews24.com that they had collected 3,536 bags of blood in January, 3,525 bags in February, and by Mar 20, they had collected 1,988 bags.
“Towards the end of Ramadan, the collection of blood drastically decreases. In total, we may not collect more than 2,000 bags this month.”
She added that patients are facing difficulties due to the reduced availability of blood, and blood banks are struggling to meet the demand.
Shamima continued, “While blood collection decreases in Ramadan, the demand does not. As a result, the number of patients coming to us for blood is increasing.
“If someone needs blood today, they may have to wait for two or three days. This puts the patients in a more difficult situation.”
She pointed out that in the past week, at least five people had come to the blood bank with family members who needed bypass surgeries but had to delay them due to the unavailability of blood.
REASONS BEHIND DROP IN BLOOD DONATION
Md Saidur Rahman Bhuiyan, an advisor to the central council of BADHAN, a voluntary blood donors’ organisation, explained the reasons behind the donor shortage during Ramadan.
He said a large number of blood donors are students. With classes and exams suspended, many of them return home.
This results in a decrease of at least 30 percent in blood collection compared with other times of the year.
Saidur said, “Some people feel uneasy donating blood while fasting, thinking it will weaken their bodies. In some cases, people consider it a religious restriction.
“Regular donors still donate blood during Ramadan, but irregular or new donors reduce their blood donations during this time.”
He also highlighted that the family members of patients who require blood often do not understand the struggle involved in securing blood.
They place the requisition, expecting it to be managed somehow.
“Earlier, we would contact five people to arrange blood, but now we have to reach out to 20. This reality doesn’t reach blood recipients' relatives,” Saidur said.
Mukarrabin Haque Nibir, General Secretary of the SANDHANI Central Committee, told bdnews24.com: “Many people are unaware that blood donation can be done while fasting, which discourages them from donating. As a result, we too are facing a shortage of donors.”
“In January, we collected 4,735 bags of blood, 5,640 bags in February, and in the first 15 days of March, we collected 2,630 bags.
“After the 15th day of Ramadan, the blood collection drastically reduces. Therefore, the total collection in March will be much lower than the previous two months,” he added.
WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE SAY?
Mohammad Abdullah, the chief Mufti of the Islamic Foundation, told bdnews24.com that blood is crucial for accident victims or patients suffering from illness. There is no religious prohibition on giving or receiving blood while fasting during Ramadan.
He added, "Blood can be donated as many times as needed; donating blood is an act of Sawab [reward]. There is no harm in donating blood during Ramadan, and there is no restriction on receiving it either.
“If too much blood is donated to the point where it weakens the body and forces the person to break their fast, donating such a large amount becomes Makruh [disliked], but it is not Najayaz [unlawful]."
“I urge those who are fasting to continue donating blood for the welfare of the public, as accidents will continue to happen, and the need for blood will remain,” Abdullah concluded.
Ashraful Haque, the head of the blood transfusion department at Cumilla Medical College Hospital, said the shortage of blood during Ramadan becomes a harsh reality for countless families every day.
Many people believe that donating blood while fasting will weaken them, and some even worry that it might break their fast.
He added, "Donating blood is not harmful to the human body; in fact, it makes the blood production process in the body more active.
“Following certain guidelines for blood donation during Ramadan can make it even safer."
Things to keep in mind when donating blood during Ramadan
Optimal time for donation: Donating blood after Iftar or after Sehri is best, as the body can recover by replenishing fluids and nutrients.
Avoiding Dehydration: Adequate intake of water and fluids before and after donating blood is important.
Nutritious Food: After donating blood, consuming iron-rich foods such as dates, milk, fruits, and leafy vegetables is necessary to regain strength.
Rest: It is advisable to take a short rest after donating blood, especially in hot weather.
Ashraful said due to fewer blood donors during Ramadan, many patients face difficulties.
Therefore, it is essential to have proper preparation at individual, social, and national levels.
He continued, "Instead of avoiding the issue, planning blood donations at appropriate times is necessary. Encourage family members and friends to donate blood. Coordinate with local blood banks and volunteer organisations. Blood banks should stock up before Ramadan.
“Hospitals and volunteer organisations can arrange special blood donation camps after Iftar. It is crucial to promote the need for blood donation through television, radio, and social media.
“In case of emergencies, coordination between relevant departments is vital to connect blood donors with those in need."
Sayedur Rahman, a special assistant to the chief advisor overseeing the health ministry, told bdnews24.com that they plan to take action on the issue.
"This could be solved by collecting more blood before Ramadan. This year, Ramadan is almost over. We will prepare to deal with such a crisis next year.
“We will instruct the relevant departments to make the preparations in advance," he added.
[Writing in English by Sheikh Fariha Bristy]
