Hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are emerging as growing health concerns among young people in Bangladesh, speakers said at a webinar on Tuesday.
The webinar, titled “Hypertension Risk Among Youth and the Way Forward: Bangladesh Perspective,” was organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) to mark International Youth Day 2026. It was supported by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) and co-organized by several youth organizations.
Speakers said NCDs account for 71% of all deaths in Bangladesh, with 19% of those deaths occurring prematurely. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ Health and Morbidity Status Survey-2025, hypertension ranks first among the country’s 10 leading diseases.
Data from the Bangladesh NCD STEPS Survey 2018 show that around 12% of people aged 18–39 have hypertension.
Professor Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute, said sustainable financing was essential to ensure a regular supply of medicines at primary-level healthcare facilities and reduce premature deaths caused by hypertension.
He said investing in hypertension control could help build a healthier young generation.
Dr Malay Kanti Mridha, professor at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, said hypertension could be effectively controlled through evidence-based preventive and curative measures.
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh country lead at GHAI, said the increase in the health budget was a positive step. He stressed that a significant portion of the additional allocation should be directed toward addressing hypertension and other NCDs.
Mohammad Al Amin, vice president of the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum (BHRF) and deputy editor of Daily Sun, said the media could play a significant role in ensuring that the government prioritizes NCD control in the allocation and use of the health budget.
Aminul Islam Sujon, consultant at Vital Strategies, also participated in the discussion.
The webinar was chaired by ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA, and moderated by Samiha Bintay Kamal, program officer at PROGGA. Representatives of youth organizations and participants from various professional backgrounds attended the webinar.
Speakers stressed the need for immediate action, preventive measures, regular screening and sustainable funding to reduce hypertension risks among young people in Bangladesh.
