Desk Report:
Chief Whip of the Bangladesh National Parliament, Md. Nurul Islam, said that the Heart Foundation is a unique institution in Bangladesh. No other institution has been able to reach the masses the way the Heart Foundation has worked to spread awareness about heart disease.
He said these things as the chief guest at a public seminar organized on the occasion of World High Blood Pressure Day on Sunday (May 17, 2026) under the theme “Let’s control blood pressure together, defeat the silent killer”.
The Chief Whip said that the most people in the world die from heart disease. It is currently one of the biggest killer diseases in the world. He said, “A healthy person is walking, and a heart attack can happen in an instant. One of the most important organs of the human body is the heart, which is not controlled by humans, but by the Almighty Allah.
He also said, “The heart works continuously from the birth of a person until death. So we have to be aware to keep the heart healthy.”
Reminiscing about the foundation’s early days, the Chief Whip said, “I have a connection with the birth of this hospital. In the beginning, there was no building here, medical services were provided sitting on the grass.”
Regarding health awareness, he said, “It is very important to eat carefully. Oil and salt should be consumed less. In addition, every person needs to do some exercise regularly. A healthy lifestyle can play an important role in preventing heart disease.”
He further said that public health is currently under threat due to the use of excessive pesticides, chemical fertilizers and hybrid food in the country. Expressing concern about child health, he said that now there is a trend of serious kidney problems even among children aged 10 to 15.
Regarding food adulteration, he said that excessive chemicals are being used in fish, chicken and vegetables. Some unscrupulous traders are knowingly producing low-quality and harmful food products, which they do not even feed to their own children.
It is worth noting that high blood pressure is one of the risk factors for various complex diseases including heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. World Hypertension Day is celebrated on May 17 every year under the initiative of the World Hypertension League and the International Society of Hypertension to raise awareness, spread information about high blood pressure among the public and doctors.
The National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh has taken various programs on the occasion of the day. The Holy Quran was recited at the beginning of the program. Later, the Chief Whip inaugurated the seminar by releasing balloons.
At the seminar Professor Khandaker Abdul Awal (Rizvi) presided over the event and Professor Sohel Reza Chowdhury presented the keynote address.
