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DHAKA, Aug 11, 2026 (BSS) - Public health experts have called for immediate and effective programmes and sustainable financing to address the alarming rise in hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Bangladesh’s young population.

They made the call at a webinar titled “Hypertension Risk among Youth and Ways Forward: Bangladesh Perspective”, organised today by research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) to mark International Youth Day.

With support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), the event was co-organised by youth organisations Bangladesh Medical Students Society, Platform Doctors’ Foundation, It’s Humanity Foundation and Give Bangladesh. This year’s International Youth Day theme is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”.

The webinar was told that hypertension and other NCDs currently cause 71 percent of all deaths in the country, with 19 percent being premature deaths.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) “Health and Morbidity Status Survey-2025”, hypertension currently ranks first among the country’s top 10 diseases.

The “Bangladesh NCD STEPS Survey, 2018” also found that nearly 12 percent of the country’s population aged 18 to 39 suffers from hypertension.

Experts warned that unless effective measures are taken immediately, the crisis could worsen in the future.

Professor Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury, head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, said regular supplies of medicines must be ensured at all health centres at the grassroots level to prevent premature deaths caused by hypertension.

He stressed the need for sustainable financing for this purpose, saying it could be the most profitable investment in building a healthy young generation.

Professor Dr Moloy Kanti Mridha of BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health said hypertension can only be effectively controlled through research-based treatment and preventive measures.

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI, said the increase in the health sector budget is a highly positive step. However, he recommended allocating a significant portion of the increased budget to addressing hypertension and other NCDs.

The webinar was chaired by PROGGA Executive Director ABM Zubair and moderated by the organisation’s Programme Officer Samiha Binte Kamal. Consultant at Vital Strategies Aminul Islam Sujon also took part in the discussion.