A workshop for journalists titled "Hypertension  Control in Bangladesh: Progress, Challenges and Way Forward" held today at  the BIP Conference Room in Dhaka. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Aug 26, 2025 (BSS) - The speakers at a workshop here today said that 
the government has stepped up efforts to tackle hypertension and other Non-
Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

They said the prevalence of hypertension and other NCDs are surging rapidly, 
posing a severe threat to public health. To tackle this growing challenge, a 
substantial portion of the health sector's budget should be directed towards 
combating hypertension. 

Such demands were made at a workshop for journalists titled "Hypertension 
Control in Bangladesh: Progress, Challenges and Way Forward" held today at 
the BIP Conference Room in the capital.

The workshop was organised by research and advocacy organisation PROGGA 
(Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator 
(GHAI). Twenty-six journalists working in print, television and online media 
participated in the workshop, said a press release.

It was informed at the workshop that some 35 ministries and divisions of the 
government have recently signed a Joint Declaration on NCDs to strengthen 
inter-ministerial cooperation.
 
The initiative aims to adopt and implement a coordinated approach to prevent 
and control NCDs, which is highly commendable.
 
NCDs, including hypertension, account for 71 percent of all deaths in 
Bangladesh. To reduce this burden, it is vital to ensure uninterrupted supply 
of anti-hypertensive medicines at Community Clinics and Upazila Health 
Complexes across the country, supported by sustainable funding.
 
Despite various challenges, the government has slightly increased the health 
sector's budget for FY 2025-26. Considering the escalating burden of NCDs, 
the workshop called for a further increase in this allocation.

Attending the workshop, Dr. Muhammad Habibur Rahman, line director of 
Community Based Health Care (CBHC), said, "The government is working to 
ensure an uninterrupted supply of anti-hypertensive medicines across the 
country. While there have been temporary challenges due to the operational 
plan not being functional, very soon the availability of medicines will be 
ensured in all Upazila Health Complexes and Community Clinics."

Editor of Spotlightnews24 Morshed Noman, Associate Director of Non-
communicable Diseases, GHAI Ezinne Ezekwem, Convener of Anti-tobacco Media 
Alliance (ATMA) Mortuza Haider Liton, its Co-convenors Nadira Kiron and Mizan 
Chowdhury and Executive Director of PROGGA ABM Zubair were present at the 
workshop as discussants. 

On the occasion, PROGGA's Director Md. Shahedul Alam and Coordinator Sadia 
Galiba Prova delivered presentations on hypertension control.