Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has urged people not to ignore any warning signs or symptoms of heart disease, stressing that there is no alternative to public awareness in preventing and controlling the disease.
“Heart disease causes the highest number of deaths among non-communicable diseases. No warning sign or symptom of heart disease should be ignored,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Cardiac Society at Hotel InterContinental in the capital on Tuesday, marking World Heart Day 2026. Professor Dr Mohammad Shafiuddin, convener of the Bangladesh Cardiac Society, chaired the event.
The health minister said people understand the importance of awareness but often fail to put it into practice in their daily lives.
“This tendency is particularly risky in the case of heart disease. Therefore, people should not ignore any warning signs or symptoms and should seek medical advice promptly,” he said.
He further said public awareness plays the most important role in preventing and controlling all types of diseases, both communicable and non-communicable.
“Many heart diseases can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle and timely medical treatment,” he added.
Professor Dr Md Nazmul Hasan, director general of the Directorate General of Health Education, Dr A N M Monwarul Kadir, assistant personal physician to the prime minister, and other health-sector experts attended the event as special guests.
Dr A F Khabir Uddin Ahmed oversaw the overall arrangements of the programme.
Earlier, the minister formally inaugurated World Heart Day 2026 by releasing balloons at the Super Specialised Hospital premises of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and joined a rally organised to mark the occasion.
