Antibiotic overuse putting Bangladesh at risk of resistance crisis: Experts

Bangladesh must act quickly to stop the misuse of antibiotics or risk a growing health crisis in which common medicines no longer work against infections, said speakers at a conference today.

They said the overuse of antibiotics in hospitals, pharmacies, poultry farms and livestock, along with weak enforcement of existing regulations, is making bacteria increasingly resistant to treatment.

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Health experts said these at a session titled "Towards a Healthy Bangladesh 2041" at the Bengal Delta Conference 2026, held at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka.

Dr Syed Masud Ahmed, professor and director of The Centre of Excellence for Health Systems and Universal Health Coverage, said hospitals should follow standard guidelines when prescribing antibiotics and strengthen infection prevention measures.

He also called for an end to the sale of antibiotics without a doctor's prescription.

Mahmud said antibiotics are widely used in poultry and livestock, often to promote animal growth rather than treat disease.

Dr Quazi Ahmed Zaki, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said the country has been monitoring antimicrobial resistance for the past five years and has found that some bacteria are becoming resistant to medicines that once worked well.

Dr Shamaruh Mirza, senior scientist at Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC), said Bangladesh had long been aware of the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance but had not acted fast enough.

Representing the pharmaceutical industry, Syed S Kaiser Kabir, chief executive officer and managing director of Renata PLC, said public awareness campaigns would be more effective than imposing stricter restrictions that are difficult to enforce.

He warned that trying to tightly control antibiotic sales without proper enforcement could create illegal markets.