Bangladesh, April 2 -- Autism is becoming increasingly common worldwide, and Bangladesh is witnessing a significant rise in cases over the past two decades. Public health experts stress that the absence of comprehensive national data on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder remains a major barrier to effective intervention.

However, experts also warn that low awareness, social stigma, and limited healthcare resources continue to leave many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder without proper diagnosis and care.

While talking to The New Nation, Prof Muzaherul Huq, former advisor for South-East Asia at the World Health Organization, emphasised the need for a nationwide statistical survey covering children and adults across regions, age ...