This comprehensive research paper explores the multifaceted challenges experienced by parents raising children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Bangladesh. As neurodevelopmental disorders gain recognition in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), the burden on caregivers remains vastly under-researched and critically unsupported. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design, this study analyzes a data sample of 480 parents recruited from specialized Child Development Centers across eight administrative divisions in Bangladesh. The quantitative data, assessed via the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), reveals critically elevated levels of clinical depression, severe anxiety, and chronic physiological stress, particularly among mothers. Qualitative thematic analysis uncovers a complex web of challenges, profound diagnostic shock mediated by psychological defense mechanisms, immense socio-cultural stigmatization deeply rooted in religious misconceptions, the collapse of social reputation (bongsho), severe financial toxicity, a critical lack of inclusive educational frameworks, patriarchal scapegoating, and marital discord. The findings emphasize that parents of children with ASD and ADHD in Bangladesh are not merely managing complex neurobehavioral symptoms, they are simultaneously battling systemic infrastructural deficits and profound societal exclusion. This paper concludes with targeted policy recommendations for state ministries, advocating for healthcare decentralization, inclusive pedagogies, and nationwide destigmatization campaigns.
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