Public health experts are urging an urgent nationwide campaign to address the alarming rise in hypertension, now identified as Bangladesh’s largest single disease burden, according to the newly released Health and Morbidity Status Survey (HMSS) 2025.
The survey ranks hypertension as the most common illness in the country, followed by peptic ulcer, diabetes, arthritis, skin diseases, heart disease, asthma, osteoporosis, hepatitis and diarrhoea. Researchers say the findings show how high blood pressure has quietly evolved into a major public health threat requiring stronger awareness and early detection efforts.
HMSS 2025 gathered data from 189,986 individuals across 47,040 households during November–December last year. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) presented the report at a dissemination event on Sunday.
Experts warn that without mass screening, lifestyle education and affordable treatment, Bangladesh may face rising rates of heart attacks, strokes and kidney diseases. The survey found that 332 out of every 1,000 people—33 percent—reported illness within the 90 days preceding data collection.
Average medical spending during that period stood at Tk 2,487 per person, with women spending slightly more (Tk 2,576) than men (Tk 2,387). Women were also more likely to use government health facilities. The survey reported that 26.7 percent of people aged 15 and above consume tobacco, with higher use in rural areas (27.7 percent) than in urban ones (24.1 percent).
Unhealthy diets continue to drive non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies excessive salt and trans-fat consumption as major modifiable risks. WHO estimates that in 2017, 3.9 million global deaths were linked to insufficient fruit and vegetable intake.
Professor Dr Mohammad Shoeb of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) said the agency is enforcing trans-fat regulations and working to introduce front-of-pack food labeling to encourage healthier choices.
Professor Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury of the National Heart Foundation stressed the need for clear salt and ingredient information on processed foods.
Despite ongoing initiatives, one in four Bangladeshis still suffers from hypertension. Experts stressed the importance of uninterrupted supplies of anti-hypertensive medicines to Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes.
Bangladesh has been recognised positively in WHO’s second Global Report on Hypertension, which highlights rising hypertension control rates—from 15 percent in 2019 to 56 percent in 2025 in several regions. The report underscores the importance of providing free medicines at the grassroots level and sustained investment in NCD care.
Globally, heart disease causes one in five premature deaths, with hypertension as a leading contributor. In Bangladesh, heart disease accounts for 34 percent of all deaths. According to WHO’s 2025 report, 283,000 people die annually from cardiovascular diseases in Bangladesh, with 52 percent of those deaths linked to hypertension. WHO notes that more than 1,000 people die every hour worldwide from preventable strokes and heart attacks caused by uncontrolled hypertension.
Professor Dr Abdullah Al Shafi Majumder, former director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), stressed early diagnosis and effective medical management to reduce hypertension-related mortality.
Dr Geeta Rani Devi, Programme Manager of Community Based Health Care (CBHC), called for strong community-level health promotion backed by policy advocacy for healthier diets.
Dr Muhammad Habibur Rahman of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) acknowledged budget and management challenges in ensuring medicine availability but expressed optimism about improvements.
Md Riad Arafin of Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL) said the agency remains committed to timely supply of anti-hypertensive medicines to NCD corners and Community Clinics.
Source: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
