She does not want any more children, but she has never seen a doctor or even a hospital in her life and she does not know what family planning is.

Hashtoti Tripura, 26, of remote Remakri union under Thanchi upazila of the district already has four children and is now five-month pregnant.

“I don't want any more children, but I don't know from where I will receive suggestions on how to prevent pregnancy,” Hashtoti said. “I never saw a doctor or even a hospital in my life,” she added.

Hashtoti's family lives in Haliram para, a remote area, along with fifteen other families.

There are three other pregnant women in Haliram para, who also don't know what family planning is.

“Nobody comes to see us, while local representatives come only before election,” said Raje Ram Tripura of the area.

“Doctors do not want to go to the remote areas of the upazila,” said Remakri Union Parishad Chairman Mui Shwe Thoai Marma, who lives in Bandarban town.

“There is only one community clinic for around 14,000 indigenous people in Remakri union, but it remains closed most of the time,” he added.

“It is really tough to communicate with pregnant women in remote areas, so we have proposed a 'Safe Delivery Home Programme' for those areas,” said Deputy Director of Bandarban Family Planning Department Dr Aung Tha Loo.

“Recently, a medical team visited Remakri bazar area where we found 25 pregnant women,” he said.

“It is really sad that people of remote areas in the district are still deprived of health care as we have to work under lots of limitations,” Civil Surgeon Dr Aung Swi Prue Marma said.

“We are working to establish more health centres in remote hills, but it takes time,” said State Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry Bir Bahadur U Shwe Sing.