Awareness essential to control NCDs
Staff Reporter:
Due to lack of safe and healthy eating habits and increasing dependence on processed food, various non-communicable diseases, including high blood pressure, are increasing at an alarming rate in Bangladesh.
According to the World Health Organization, foods high in salt, sugar and fat increase the risk of various non-communicable diseases, including high blood pressure. Front-of-package labeling can play an important role in creating consumer awareness in this regard.
On the occasion of National Safe Food Day, 2026, on Sunday, speakers presented these information and recommendations at a webinar titled “ Safe Food to Combat Non-communicable Diseases and What We Can Do ” , organized by research and advocacy organization PRAGGA (Knowledge for Progress) in collaboration with Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). The theme of this year’s day is “Ensure Safe Food, Build Healthy and Strong Lives” .
The webinar was informed that according to the World Health Organization, about 5,70,263 people die of non-communicable diseases in the country every year. According to the Global Burden of Disease 2021, about 27,387 people die of non-communicable diseases every year due to unhealthy dietary habits such as excess sodium, trans-fatty foods, and sugary soft drinks. However, the budget allocation for controlling non-communicable diseases is very inadequate, only 4.2 percent of the health budget.
Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Chowdhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, said, “ It is particularly important to develop healthy eating habits and reduce dependence on processed foods to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and other non-communicable diseases among the population.”
Former Director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Dhaka University, Professor Dr. Najma Shaheen said, “ Front-of-pack labeling is necessary to create public awareness about the amount of unhealthy food ingredients such as excess salt, sugar and trans fat. This will play an effective role in reducing the incidence of other non-communicable diseases including high blood pressure in the country.”
Professor Dr. Mohammad Shoaib, a member of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, said, “ The government is working to introduce a front-of-pack labeling system in an easy-to-understand manner to specifically make consumers aware of the health risks of consuming processed foods. We hope to implement it soon.”
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI , said, “ Along with awareness, sustainable funding is needed to tackle non-communicable diseases like hypertension. ”
The webinar was also attended by the Head of Online (Bangla) of Daily Times of Bangladesh Md. Monir Hossain Liton. The webinar was chaired by Progga Executive Director ABM Zubair and moderated by Progga Program Officer Samiha Binte Kamal. Journalists from print , television and online media , civil society representatives and relevant experts, as well as people from different walks of life from different regions of the country, participated in the webinar.