Nearly Six Million People in Bangladesh Live with Osteoporosis, Dr Zubaida Rahman Calls for a Coordinated Programme in All 64 Districts

An estimated six million people in Bangladesh are living with osteoporosis. The disease silently reduces bone density, raising the risk of fractures for those affected and disrupting their normal lives. Older women face a particularly high risk.

To tackle the situation, Dr Zubaida Rahman — vice president of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman — has called for a coordinated programme across all 64 districts to raise public awareness of the disease, ensure regular screening and guarantee treatment for those affected.

She made the remarks on Tuesday (October 20) as chief guest at a scientific seminar held at the convention hall of Bangladesh Medical University's (BMU) Super Specialized Hospital building in the capital, organised for 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, suddenly increasing the risk of fractures and reducing a patient's ability to carry out daily activities. A huge number of people in Bangladesh suffer fractures and long-term hardship because of the disease.

She said effective steps to prevent osteoporosis must be taken now. If suitable preventive measures are arranged for girls and young women, the prevalence and complications of the disease can be reduced considerably in the future.

Citing a 2025 statistic, she said an estimated six million people in the country are affected by osteoporosis, though the real number could be higher. Among affected elderly people, the number of women is significantly higher.

Presenting data from a study of 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 surveyed had some deficiency in bone density.

A separate older hospital-based study of urban women aged 46 to 65 found an osteoporosis rate of 41.8 percent and an osteopenia rate of 40.7 percent.

She said it is difficult to determine exactly how many women in Bangladesh suffer from the disease. More research and regular screening are needed to know its true picture.

Stressing a coordinated nationwide initiative against osteoporosis, Dr Zubaida Rahman proposed forming an Osteoporosis Society. Through such an organisation, she said, awareness programmes could be run in all 64 districts. It must be ensured that people in no region are deprived of treatment for lack of awareness or testing facilities.

She said doctors can play an important role in making people aware of the disease's risks and ensuring proper treatment for patients. There is also scope to run nationwide awareness activities through one hundred thousand health workers.

Proposing an Osteoporosis Awareness Month every year, she said rallies, discussion meetings and campaigns could be organised for the occasion. She also emphasised seminars for doctors at district and specialised hospitals on modern diagnostic methods.

She called for screening camps to measure bone mineral density and regular community-based testing opportunities. In areas where bone density measurement facilities do not exist, she suggested using the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool to evaluate fracture risk.

Dr Zubaida Rahman said awareness against osteoporosis needs to be built from childhood. Nutritional matters such as vitamin D deficiency, bone mineral density and adequate calcium intake in childhood must be given importance. She urged academics and leading figures in the medical field to come forward to raise public health and nutrition awareness.

She said there is no alternative to raising awareness of the disease, regular testing and ensuring treatment for patients if its long-term damage is to be reduced.

The event, chaired by DAB president Professor Dr Harun Al Rashid, was also addressed by BNP standing committee member and DAB chief adviser Professor Dr Farhad Halim Donar and Dr Abdus Salam MP as special guests. The seminar included a question-and-answer session, a panel discussion and a quiz with specialists taking part.

This year's World Osteoporosis Day programme is being observed under the theme 'Build bones for life, protect and strengthen them'. Incepta is providing scientific support. World Osteoporosis Day is observed every year on October 20.