Burnout among healthcare professionals in Bangladesh: a narrative review

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals are particularly vulnerable due to heavy workloads, long duty hours, and emotionally demanding work environments. In Bangladesh, structural constraints within the healthcare system may further increase the risk of burnout. This article synthesizes existing evidence on burnout among healthcare professionals in the country. METHODS: A structured narrative review was conducted using a comprehensive literature search without time restrictions in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and BanglaJOL up to 02 February, 2026. Studies were screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and eligible studies were thematically synthesized. RESULTS: Eight cross-sectional studies were included with sample sizes ranged from 50 to 2705 and encompassed various healthcare professional groups, including intern doctors, medical officers, postgraduate trainees, consultants, nurses, dentists, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) physicians, and hospital attendants. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was the most frequently used assessment tool. Moderate to high burnout prevalence ranged from approximately 20% to over 55%, with particularly elevated levels reported among female physicians, ICU physicians, and early-career professionals. Domain-specific findings showed extremely high levels of emotional exhaustion (up to 95%) and depersonalization in some cohorts. Consistently identified risk factors were long working hours, excessive workload, frequent night shifts, poor work-life balance, inadequate remuneration, limited organizational support, and pandemic-related stressors. CONCLUSION: Burnout appears to be common among healthcare professionals in Bangladesh, particularly in high-risk subgroups, and is associated with occupational and organizational factors.