A meeting with the development partners and international donors, aid agencies was held on 18th October 2009 at the Queens Hall, Spectra Convention Centre, Gulshan, Dhaka. The aim of the meeting is to disseminate the raising prevalence of NCD’s in Bangladesh and urge the issue of more fund flow in this sector among the funding, donor and aid agencies.

The programme started with registration and tea at 10.30 am and after that the honorable guests and delegates took their chair. The programme was enlightened by Professor Dr. Shah Munir Hossain, Honorable Director General, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Along with that Mr. M M Reza, Ex- Health Secretary; Dr. Barkat-e- Khuda, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka; Dr. M. Mostafa Zaman, National Professional Officer (NCD); Dr. M A Sabur, Team Leader PSO, HNPSP, Dr. Bushara Alam, The World Bank, Dr. Sehlina Ahmed, DFID, Dr Sukumar Sarkar, USAID, Dr. Nazneen Anowar, WHO; Dr. Shumona Shafinaj, UNICEF; Dr. AM Zakir Hussain, Ex-Director, PHC, DGHS; Dr. Zeba Mahmud, Country Director; MI; Dr. Hilay Symn, 1st secretary, CIDA; Mr. Jean Olivier Program Coordinator, HNPSP, GTZ; Dr Lalita Bhattacharjee, Nutritionist, FAO; Prof. Dr. Fatima Parveen Chowdhury, Director, IPHN; Dr. Shamim Ara Begum; Joint Chief (Joint Secretary) and Line Director, Health Economics Unit, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Dr. Nasrin Hoque, KOIKA; Nur Ahmad Armaan, Director (Social Welfare), Islamic Relief; Dr. Shamima Tasmin, Health Adviser, Royal Embassy of Netherlands; Ms. Nadia Rashid, Program Officer, EC; Mr Froscish, Embassy of France, Dr. SM Rafiqul Islam, Muslim Aid; participated in the program. Moreover 12 journalists from electronic and print media were also participated in the meeting.

The specific objectives of arranging the meeting were as following:

1.    To aware the donor, international aid and funding agencies about the current status of NCD’s in Bangladesh

2.    To urge the donor, international aid and funding agencies the status of funding and urge for more fund flow in Bangladesh on NCD issues  

3.    To aware the media personnel from both print and electronic media about the current status of NCD’s, status of funding in Bangladesh

Dr Barakat –E- Khuda, presented the key note presentation after the welcome speech of Dr. MA Sabur. With the moderation of Dr Shamim Talukder, Chief Executive of Eminence, the present guests expressed their opinion regarding the devastating effect of NCD’s in Bangladesh and expressed their interest to work in this sector in future. At the end Dr Zakir Hussain, summarized key issues that had been discussed in the programme and stressed on necessity for funding for the prevention and control of NCD’s in Bangladesh.

A total of 62 participants were present at the dialogue including 12 journalists from electronic and print media. News paper cutting has been attached as annex.