Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, Aug 11, 2026 (BSS) – Experts at a webinar today said that effective programmes and sustainable financing are urgently needed to address the prevalence of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the young population.
 
Non-communicable diseases, including high blood pressure, are increasing at an alarming rate among the country's young population, accounting for 71 percent of total deaths in Bangladesh, and 19 percent of these deaths are premature deaths, they said.
 
They said this at the webinar titled ‘Hypertension risk among youth and the way forward: Bangladesh perspective’, organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) to mark the International Youth Day 2026, a press release said.
 
Supported by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), the event was co-organized by youth networks, including Bangladesh Medical Students’ Society, Platform Doctors Foundation, It’s Humanity Foundation and Give Bangladesh.
 
Tomorrow, 12 August, the day will be observed with the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”.
 
Participants from various regions of the country, including Rangpur, and representatives of youth organizations and people from diverse professional backgrounds, attended the webinar.

Quoting the Health and Morbidity Status Survey-2025 by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the experts said that hypertension ranks first among the top 10 diseases in the country.
 
Data from the Bangladesh NCD STEPS Survey 2018 show that approximately 12 percent of people aged 18-39 have hypertension. If effective measures are not taken immediately, the crisis could become even severer.
 
Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute Professor Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury said that sustainable financing is essential to ensure a regular supply of medicines at all primary-level healthcare facilities to reduce premature deaths caused by hypertension.
 
“It can be one of the most worthwhile investments in building a healthy young generation,” he predicted.
 
Professor at the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health Dr Malay Kanti Mridha said, “Hypertension can be effectively controlled through evidence-based curative and preventive measures.”
 
Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI Muhammad Ruhul Quddus said, “The increase in the health budget is a very positive step. A significant portion of the increased allocation should be spent on addressing hypertension and other non-communicable diseases.”
 
Vice-president of Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum (BHRF) and Deputy Editor of the Daily Sun Mohammad Al Amin said that the media can play a significant role in ensuring that the government prioritizes NCD control in the allocation and use of the health budget.
 
Consultant at the Vital Strategies Aminul Islam Sujan also participated in the webinar as a discussant.  

Executive Director of PROGGA ABM Zubair presided over the webinar moderated by its Program Officer Samiha Bintay Kamal.