First Meeting: Developing AMR IEC Materials for Bangladesh

First expert group meeting on the development of information, education & communication (IEC) materials on AMR/AMU for WAAW 2025 in Bangladesh

Background

Bangladesh, the most densely populated country for both humans and animals, is considered a potential hotspot for a waterborne AMR epidemic, with limited access to handwashing (35%) and basic sanitation (48%). Weak infection prevention and biosecurity practices, along with unethical pharmaceutical promotion, poor regulation, and the easy availability of high-risk antimicrobials, drive widespread misuse and overuse. As a result, AMR is rising across hospitals, communities, farms, and the environment, posing a serious regional and global threat.

Moving forward to develop IEC materials on AMR

In order to progressively reduce the risks of AMR, the MPTF (Multi-Partner Trust Fund) project in Bangladesh started in August 2022 by “Quadripartite” partners (WOAH, FAO, WHO and UNEP). The project is designed to contribute to the three key strategies (Strategy 2, 3 & 5) of the National Strategy and Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance Containment in Bangladesh (2021-2026). Under key strategy 2, WOAH has supported the development of the multisectoral communication strategy to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Bangladesh and related materials. Based on this strategy, specific messages for specific target audiences and the means of communication for the upcoming WAAW 2025 need to be developed.

For that purpose, the first expert group hybrid meeting was held on 11 September 2025. The meeting was graced by the motivational speech from Dr Md. Abu Sufiun, Director General and WOAH Delegate, Department of Livestock Services (DLS) in Bangladesh. Thirteen national and international experts from government and development partners (livestock, fisheries, health, drug administration, environment, etc.) joined and contributed to the meeting. The AMR experts from WOAH (Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific) and UNEP (Regional Office for Asia & the Pacific) joined virtually. There will be another two meetings and IEC materials will be finalized and printed for use during World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025.

Details

Date: 11 September 2025

Venue: FAO ECTAD conference room, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Agenda: PDF

Participation: By invitation only

Participants (not as per ranking):

1. Md. Abu Sufiun, Director General (In-Charge), Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and WOAH Delegate in Bangladesh
2. Sk Shaheenur Islam, Deputy Director, Animal Health, Department of Livestock Services (DLS), and WOAH Focal points for Veterinary Products
3. Md. Sohel Rana, Staff Officer to DG, Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and DLS-nominated focal person for the AMR MPTF project
4. Habib Forhad Alam, Assistant Director (Aquaculture) and WOAH focal person, Department of Fisheries (DoF)
5. Mahmud Husain, Deputy Director, Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA)
6. Jahidul Kabir, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests, Education and Training Wing, Forest Department
7. Rabeya Sultana, Assistant Professor, Department of Environment, Khulna University
8. Aninda Rahman, National Professional Officer Antimicrobial Resistance, WHO, Bangladesh
9. Hamida Khalil Monira, National Technical Advisor-Clinical Services, FAO ECTAD, Bangladesh
10. Humayra Nowrin, Translator/Interpreter, FAO ECTAD, Bangladesh
11. Miguel Antonio Salazar, One Health Consultant for AMR of UNEP Regional Office for Asia & the Pacific, UNEP
12. Pondpan Suwanthada, Regional AMR Project Officer, Asia Pacific, Tokyo
13. Md. Habibur Rahman, WOAH National AMR MPTF Consultant for Bangladesh