Experts urge united action to combat rising threat of antimicrobial resistance

Public health experts and policymakers have warned that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an urgent threat to Bangladesh, calling for coordinated national and community-level action as misuse of antibiotics continues to undermine life-saving treatments.

At a webinar titled "From Clinics to Communities: Mobilising Stakeholders for AMR Awareness & Stewardship in Bangladesh," held yesterday (24 November 2025), specialists highlighted the scale of the crisis and the need for unified efforts to curb antibiotic misuse.

The event was organised by the ARK Foundation to mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2025, observed globally under the theme "Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future."

Speakers noted that studies have found some antibiotics in Bangladesh to be up to 97% ineffective, while AMR was directly linked to more than 26,200 deaths in a single year.

They said the situation demands immediate and sustained action from all sectors.

The webinar, conducted via Zoom, aimed to strengthen the link between national policies and local responses by promoting a multi-sectoral approach.

Its key speakers were Dr Samsad Rabbani Khan of the Communicable Disease Control Unit, DGHS; Dr Aninda Rahman, national professional officer for AMR at WHO Bangladesh; Dr Khaleda Islam, former director of Primary Health Care at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; and Professor Dr Rumana Huque, executive director of the ARK Foundation.

Dr Aninda Rahman highlighted major gaps in AMR surveillance, including limited environmental data and inconsistent laboratory reporting.

He recommended a low-cost antimicrobial stewardship package and joint hospital teams comprising clinicians and microbiologists.

"We must create a strong linkage between clinicians and laboratory personnel by forming joint teams to develop protocols and improve reporting quality, which will ultimately enhance the reliability of our laboratory systems," he said.

Dr Samsad Rabbani Khan discussed challenges in implementing the National Action Plan on AMR, pointing to inadequate laboratory capacity and low motivation among stakeholders.

He called for sustainable financing, private-sector involvement, and stronger regulatory action against unauthorised antibiotic sales.

"We must enforce pharmacy regulations through community-level surveillance, taking legal action against pharmacies selling antibiotics without prescriptions and rewarding those who follow the law," he said.

Dr Khaleda Islam noted that although Community Healthcare Providers remain overburdened, their contribution to AMR stewardship is still underused.

Drawing parallels with Bangladesh's successful EPI programme, she emphasised the value of community trust, training, and simple technology.

"We must transform the AMR response into a social movement through multi-sectoral engagement, just as we successfully did with the national immunisation programme," she said.

The session was attended by young public health researchers, community workers, drug sellers, and civil society representatives.

Organisers said the webinar forms part of the ARK Foundation's broader efforts to promote evidence-based policy dialogue and strengthen health systems through multi-stakeholder engagement.