Staff Reporter : Bangladesh has demonstrated notable progress in controlling hypertension according to the recently published second Global report on hypertension 2025 by World Health Organization (WHO). Between 2019 and 2025, the rate of hypertension control increased from 15 percent to 56 percent in some regions of Bangladesh. However, the report has put strong emphasis on ensuring reliable access to affordable, quality-assured antihypertensive medicines.
Hypertension, known as the silent killer, affects one in every four people in the country. Although the government has begun providing free anti-hypertensive medicines through Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes, uninterrupted supply remains a challenge due to lack of sustainable funding. Such information was highlighted at a virtual workshop for journalists titled “Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress, Challenges and Way Forward”, on 9th October 2025. The workshop was organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). Twenty-four journalists from Chattogram division working in print, electronic, and online media houses participated in the workshop.
It was informed at the workshop that hypertension ranks among the top three causes of deaths and disability in Bangladesh. Strengthening the supply of anti-hypertensive medicine at the grassroots level, along with increased allocation for this sector, can be a cost-effective approach to reduce non-communicable diseases and premature deaths.
The workshop also highlighted that 35 ministries and divisions of the government have recently signed a Joint Declaration on NCDs to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation. The initiative aimed at adopting and implementing a coordinated approach to prevent and control NCDs is expected to play an important role in reducing the prevalence of hypertension.
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA attended the virtual workshop. PROGGA’s Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova delivered presentation on hypertension control.