Around six million people in Bangladesh living with osteoporosis, call for coordinated programme in all 64 districts
Around six million people in Bangladesh are believed to be living with osteoporosis. The disease silently reduces bone density, raising the risk of fractures for those affected and disrupting normal life. Experts say the risk is especially high among older women.
To face the situation, Ziaur Rahman Foundation vice-president Dr Zubaida Rahman has called for a coordinated programme across all 64 districts of the country to raise public awareness about the disease, ensure regular screening and guarantee treatment for those affected. Effective steps to prevent osteoporosis must be taken now, she said.
She made the remarks as chief guest at a scientific seminar held on Tuesday at the convention hall of the Super Specialized Hospital building of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) in the capital, organised on the occasion of World Osteoporosis Day. The seminar, titled 'Osteoporosis: A Preventable Epidemic', was organised by the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB).
Dr Zubaida Rahman said osteoporosis is a silent disease. It makes bones weak, thin and porous. As a result, the risk of sudden fractures rises and the affected person's ability to carry out daily work declines. A huge number of people in Bangladesh are suffering fractures and long-term hardship because of this disease, she said.
Citing a 2025 statistic, she said around six million people in the country are estimated to have osteoporosis. The actual number, however, could be even higher. Among affected elderly people, the number of women is significantly greater.
Presenting data from a study conducted on women aged 45 to 80 in north-central Bangladesh, she said the study found osteoporosis in 40 percent of the women and osteopenia in 43.5 percent. In other words, more than 83 percent of the women who took part in the study had a deficiency in bone density.
In addition, an older hospital-based study on women aged 46 to 65 in urban areas found an osteoporosis rate of 41.8 percent and an osteopenia rate of 40.7 percent. The findings of both studies make clear the scale of concern over the bone health of older women.
She said it is difficult to determine exactly how many women in Bangladesh suffer from this disease. More research and regular screening are needed to know the true picture of the disease. If suitable preventive measures are taken for girls and young women, the prevalence and complications of the disease can be reduced greatly in the future, she added.
Stressing a coordinated nationwide initiative to prevent osteoporosis, Dr Zubaida Rahman proposed forming an Osteoporosis Society. Through such an organisation, she said, awareness programmes could be run in all 64 districts of the country. It must be ensured that people in no region are deprived of treatment for lack of awareness or access to testing.
She also said doctors can play an important role in making people aware of the risks of the disease and in ensuring proper treatment for those affected. Alongside that, there is scope to run awareness activities nationwide through one hundred thousand health workers. She also proposed observing an osteoporosis awareness month every year.
Among others present at the seminar were Dr Syed Akram Hossain, Professor Dr Shamim Ahmed, Dr Sheikh Farid Ahmed and Professor Mohammad Belalul Islam. This year's World Osteoporosis Day programme is being observed under the theme 'Build bones for life, protect and strengthen', with scientific support from Incepta. World Osteoporosis Day is observed every year on 20 October.
According to experts, awareness is the biggest weapon against this silent disease. If timely testing, preventive measures and access to treatment can be taken to every district of the country, the risk of fractures and long-term suffering can be reduced a great deal — that message came up again and again in the seminar's discussions.
