The Bangladesh Pharmacists Forum (BPF), long recognized as a leading advocate for the advancement of pharmacy and healthcare in the country, hosted its annual “Iftar and Get Together 2026” on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. The event took place at the Red Orchid Restaurant and Party Center in New Eskaton, Dhaka, bringing together pharmacists, pharmacy professionals, educators, students, and key stakeholders from across the nation.
The gathering provided a unique platform for discussion on professional development, healthcare policy, and the future of pharmacy practice in Bangladesh, while simultaneously fostering camaraderie and unity among pharmacy professionals. Through its sustained initiatives and advocacy, BPF has aimed to strengthen the role of pharmacists in the healthcare system and promote innovation in medicine and pharmaceutical services.
Speaking at the event, Professor Dr. Shimul Halder, General Secretary of the Dhaka University Pharmacy Alumni Association and Chairman of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, highlighted the significance of the forum’s six-point demands. “One of these demands is already progressing toward implementation, particularly the Pharm D programme, which has been introduced and is expected to gradually expand to other universities across the country,” he said. He emphasised that collective action and professional unity are essential to achieving the broader goals of the pharmacy sector. “If all pharmacists in Bangladesh work together with a shared vision, the forum’s demands can be realized step by step,” Dr. Halder noted, stressing the importance of cooperation across the sector.
Senior Pharmacist Md. Belayet Hossain underscored the vital role of pharmacists within healthcare delivery. He remarked that political leadership in Bangladesh recognizes the value of pharmacists’ services. Drawing on personal examples, he mentioned that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his family, having received pharmacy services during their stay in England, are aware of the professional significance of pharmacists. “We hope that pharmacists will soon be formally incorporated into government hospitals as part of the healthcare workforce,” he added.
Addressing the gathering, BPF President Md. Azibur Rahman called for unity among the country’s 25,000 registered graduate pharmacists, highlighting that their collective efforts are essential to strengthen the profession. “With more than 80,000 doctors in the country, the contributions of pharmacists must be amplified through coordinated action,” he said. Rahman also stressed the forum’s commitment to creating employment opportunities for young pharmacists, especially in government hospitals, through the inclusion of clinical and hospital pharmacists in the healthcare system.
BPF General Secretary Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Tanvir revisited the long-standing issue of graduate pharmacist registration, which had been suspended in 2008. He outlined the forum’s continuous advocacy since 2012, which led to the resumption of registration in 2015. Today, more than 25,000 pharmacists are registered and actively contributing to healthcare both domestically and internationally. Tanvir further discussed several initiatives by BPF during the Covid-19 pandemic, including proposals to recruit volunteer pharmacists and establish hospital pharmacies to support healthcare services. He also highlighted the formal presentation of the forum’s six-point demands to the government in 2024, aimed at strengthening the role of pharmacists nationwide.
Vice President of BPF and Member Secretary of the North South University Alumni Association, Sohel Bin Azad Apu, noted that the forum has consistently pursued its objectives through peaceful and democratic means, in contrast to past organisations that often resorted to aggressive pressure tactics. He urged the government to implement the pending legitimate demands of pharmacists promptly and issue the necessary gazette notifications.
The event also welcomed special guest Manojit Kumar Roy, Manager (Microbiology) at Navana Pharma and Convener of the Pharma Microbiologist Forum Bangladesh. Roy praised BPF for uniting pharmacists across the country under shared principles and ideals over the past decade. He also expressed his organisation’s support for the forum’s six-point demands and envisioned collaboration between the two forums to ensure the availability of safe and effective medicines in the healthcare system.
Several BPF leaders attended the programme, including Senior Vice President SM Anwar Majid Tarek, Vice Presidents Md. Zakaria Farooqui and AK Azad, Finance Secretary Abul Fazal, Co-Organising Secretary Mahmudur Rahman Saad, Publicity Secretary Mominul Islam (Nirjhor), Co-Publicity Secretary Saimum Islam, Office Secretary Md. Ehsan Ahmed Jewel, Education and Research Secretary Md. Nurul Islam Nahid, and executive members Md. Arif Khan, Faisal Tariq Tanmoy, Md. Mohaiminul Islam, and Md. Mejbah Uddin Sabbir. The programme was moderated by BPF Organising Secretary Md. Arman Hossain Shuvo.
The event concluded with prayers for the welfare of the nation and its people, emphasizing the spiritual significance of Ramadan. Attendees later shared iftar in a warm and friendly atmosphere, reinforcing professional bonds and reaffirming their commitment to advancing the pharmacy profession in Bangladesh.
Through this gathering, BPF reiterated its dedication to fostering unity, professional excellence, and policy advocacy, strengthening its pivotal role in the country’s healthcare system.
