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Background: Although the under-5 child mortality has significantly dropped all over the world, neonatal mortality has remained stagnant in many low-resource countries. Birth asphyxia is one of the leading causes of neonatal deaths. This study aimed to identify the determinants of birth asphyxia deaths in a nationally representative sample in Bangladesh. Methods: This secondary analysis included verbal autopsy data of 301 neonatal deaths from 2017-18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Trained field workers interviewed mothers who had lost their baby within the 5 years preceding the survey using standardized questionnaires. The causes of death were assigned through physician review process. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of birth asphyxia death against all other causes of neonatal death. Results:Birth asphyxia deaths accounted for 24.6% (n=74) of neonatal deaths. Maternal height (aOR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86, 0.97), caesarean delivery (aOR: 3, 95% CI: 1.31, 6.84), and smaller (aOR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.84) and larger size at birth (aOR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.09, 5.48) were found to significantly influence the odds of dying due to birth asphyxia than of other causes. Conclusion: Maternal nutritional status (as measured by height), caesarean delivery, and size of the baby at birth are the underlying factors that influence birth asphyxia deaths among newborns. The results underscore the importance of improving coverage of nutrition services to adolescent girls and pregnant women. There might be reversed causal direction between caesarean section and asphyxia which needs further exploration.