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Published : 06 Feb 2026, 02:43 AM
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has organised a student awareness programme on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a major push to mobilise the next generation against one of the world’s most pressing health crises.
The event, titled “Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Awareness and Understanding among Public–Private University Students”, was held on Saturday at the IEDCR Auditorium in Dhaka’s Mohakhali, according to a media statement from Dyadic Research Impacts.
The theme of the event, supported by WaterAid Bangladesh, was “AMR: From Environment to Society – A Youth Perspective”.
The event aimed to strengthen knowledge, awareness, and active engagement of university students regarding the growing public health threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Students and faculty members from leading public and private universities participated in the event.
Participating institutions included Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University from the public sector, and BRAC University, North South University (NSU), and Independent University Bangladesh (IUB) from the private sector.
Students from pharmacy, environmental science, public health, and social science disciplines took part in various activities, the statement read.
The event began with the inauguration of a poster exhibition by IEDCR Chief Scientific Officer Prof Zakir Hossain Habib, along with respected faculty members of the participating universities.
Prof Habib also delivered the keynote presentation titled “The Silent Pandemic of AMR: Safeguarding Our Future Against Drug Resistance”.
Key components of the event included a quiz competition, poster presentation, and video content development showcase.
Winners of the student competitions were announced during the concluding session.
Addressing the audience, Prof Md Selim Reza, dean at Dhaka University’s Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, emphasised that raising public awareness on AMR is critical to protecting humanity.
He noted that even health-conscious individuals often fail to complete prescribed antibiotic courses and highlighted the urgent need to address the widespread over-the-counter sale and promotion of medicines.
A faculty member from Jahangirnagar University expressed appreciation for the initiative and noted that this was the first time universities had been engaged in such a collaborative platform on AMR.
He called for similar co-creation initiatives in future, with greater emphasis on discussions based on laboratory evidence.
Dr Zenat Zebin Hossain, head of the Department of Public Health, IUB, said the university looks forward to becoming a partner in future initiatives and involving a larger number of universities in AMR-related activities.
