The half-day meeting was organized by ADD International as part of its community-based mental health and suicide prevention initiatives. Speakers noted that suicide remains a major public health concern in Bangladesh, particularly among adolescents and young adults. The highest suicide mortality rate, 28 per 100,000, was recorded among those aged 18–24. Professor Kamal UA Chowdhury of the University of Dhaka said Bangladesh has adequate policies and technical capacity on suicide prevention, but community-level implementation remains weak. The meeting also discussed Section 7.13 of the National Mental Health Policy 2022, which calls for a national suicide prevention strategy involving all stakeholders.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 29, 2026 18:28 UTC