DHAKA, May 7, 2026 (BSS) – The World Thalassaemia Day will be observed tomorrow in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world to raise awareness about thalassaemia and its prevention.

The theme of this year’s observance is: 'Hidden No More: Finding the Undiagnosed. Supporting the Unseen'.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has issued a message saying that around two crore people in Bangladesh carry the thalassaemia gene, which is a matter of serious concern for public health. 

He stressed the need for immediate and effective measures to ensure the health and wellbeing of future generations.

He further said that the government has adopted a preventive approach under the principle that “prevention is better than cure,” which he termed the most effective strategy to combat thalassaemia.

The premier also said that the government is working to build a modern, people-oriented healthcare system. 

He noted that the planned “e-Health Card” initiative is being implemented, which will store citizens’ health information digitally. 

Once introduced, the system will allow individuals to access their health records easily, while doctors will be able to quickly retrieve patients’ medical histories from anywhere in the country, he added.

Experts say thalassaemia is a hereditary blood disorder. Humans have two genes responsible for haemoglobin production. 

If one gene is defective, the person becomes a carrier; if both genes are defective, the person develops thalassaemia disease. Not all carriers develop the disease.

The symptoms of thalassaemia usually appear within one to two years of birth and include paleness, weakness, frequent infections, poor weight gain, jaundice and irritability.

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data, 11.4 percent of the population in Bangladesh is thalassaemia carriers, compared to 7–8 percent in 2014–15. 

The country has an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 thalassaemia patients.