Mentioning that the prevalence of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Bangladesh’s young population is increasing at an alarming rate, speakers at a webinar on Tuesday underscored the need for effective programmes and sustainable financing to address this growing crisis.
The webinar titled “Hypertension Risk Among Youth and the Way Forward: Bangladesh Perspective” was organised by research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) to mark International Youth Day 2026.
The event was supported by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) and co-organised by youth networks, including Bangladesh Medical Students’ Society, Platform Doctors Foundation, It’s Humanity Foundation and Give Bangladesh.
According to the Bangladesh NCD STEPS Survey 2018, around 12 percent of people aged 18-39 have hypertension.
Speakers warned that without effective measures, the situation could worsen significantly.
They also said NCDs, including hypertension, account for 71 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh, with 19 percent of those deaths occurring prematurely.
According to the Health and Morbidity Status Survey-2025 of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), hypertension ranks first among the country’s top 10 diseases.
Prof Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute, said sustainable financing is essential to ensure a regular supply of medicines at primary-level healthcare facilities and reduce premature deaths from hypertension.
“It can be one of the most worthwhile investments in building a healthy young generation,” he said.
Dr Malay Kanti Mridha, professor at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, said hypertension can be effectively controlled through evidence-based curative and preventive measures.
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead at GHAI, said the increase in the health budget is a positive step and called for a significant share of the additional allocation to be directed towards hypertension and other NCDs.
The webinar was presided over by ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA, and moderated by Samiha Bintay Kamal, programme officer at PROGGA.
Participants from different parts of the country, including representatives of youth organisations and people from diverse professional backgrounds, attended the webinar.
International Youth Day will be observed on Wednesday with the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”