PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), organized a workshop for senior journalists in Dhaka on April 23 titled “Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases in Bangladesh: The Role of Hypertension Control and Front-of-Package Labeling.”
The workshop highlighted the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh, including hypertension, diabetes and cancer, and the contribution of ultra-processed foods to the public health crisis. A total of 28 senior journalists from print, television and online media participated.
Speakers said excessive consumption of packaged foods high in sugar, sodium, saturated fats and trans fats is a key driver of the growing NCD burden. Citing the World Health Organization (WHO), they noted that approximately 71 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh are caused by non-communicable diseases.
They said nearly 97 percent of people in Bangladesh regularly consume packaged foods, while nutritional information on packaging is often difficult for consumers to interpret. As a result, many make food choices without a clear understanding of nutritional content and associated health risks.
The speakers emphasized that mandatory Front-of-Package Labeling (FOPL) would help consumers quickly identify unhealthy products through clear “Excess in” warning labels displayed on the front of packaging. They said this would support healthier dietary choices and encourage food manufacturers to improve product formulations.
They also noted that 44 countries have already introduced FOPL as an effective World Health Organization-recommended “best-buy” public health intervention, while 10 countries have made it mandatory.
Speakers further said that budget allocation for the sector remains insufficient, accounting for only 4.2 percent of the total health budget. They added that uninterrupted supply of anti-hypertensive medicines cannot be ensured at all community clinics, stressing that sustainable financing is needed to strengthen hypertension control services at community clinics and upazila health complexes.
Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Mortuza Haider Liton, Nadira Kiron, Mizan Chowdhury and ABM Zubair attended as discussants. Thematic presentations were delivered by PROGGA program officers Samiha Bintay Kamal and Shabnam Mostofa.