State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin today spoke at BTS Lottery-2025 prize-giving ceremony organized by the Bangladesh Thalassemia Samity (BTS) at Taher Bhaban in Dhaka. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Mar 7, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin today stressed the need for increasing public awareness to control the hereditary disease thalassemia.

She said this while addressing the BTS Lottery-2025 prize-giving ceremony organized by the Bangladesh Thalassemia Samity (BTS) at Taher Bhaban in the capital's Green Road.

The State Minister said nearly 20 million people in Bangladesh are carriers of thalassemia, while treatment of the disease is highly expensive and about 90 percent of patients cannot afford the cost.

She urged BTS leaders to prepare documents outlining effective measures, policy initiatives and medical support needed to control the disease and communicate those with the government. The Ministry of Social Welfare will take necessary steps so that no child is born with thalassemia in the country, she added.

Farzana Sharmin also emphasized both financial and mental support for thalassemia fighters.

At the programme, thalassemia fighters Nawshin Tanzim and Lubaba Tasnim shared their experiences, while guardians of patients called for free Hemoglobin Electrophoresis tests and a specialized thalassemia hospital.

The State Minister later handed over prize cheques to the winners of BTS Lottery-2025 and urged them to help raise awareness about the disease.