Background and Aims: Diabetes is recognized as a significant factor in both mortality and morbidity worldwide, affecting various demographics regardless of geographic location, age group, or gender. This correspondence aims to express concern and draw the attention of leaders and policymakers worldwide to this critical public health issue.Methods: A thorough literature search was conducted utilizing various databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) website, to collect the required data. Keywords were strategically applied to enhance search results, with preference given to English‐language articles containing pertinent information.Results: According to the 2021 report by the IDF, approximately 537 million individuals globally were affected with diabetes, constituting roughly 10.5% of the world's populace. This condition incurred healthcare expenditures totaling $966 billion. Projections indicate a surge in diabetes cases to 783 million by 2045, with associated healthcare costs estimated to surpass $1054 billion. However, almost half of all people with diabetes are unaware of their medical condition, with the highest prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes Mellitus (DM) found in low and middle‐income countries (LMICs) of the regions of Africa, the Western Pacific, and Southeast Asia.Conclusion: Collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO), LMIC governments should improve healthcare accessibility, including more frequent diabetes screenings for individuals aged ≥ 45 years and younger individuals at elevated risk of having a family history.

The Hijra community is marginalized in social, political, and economic life and especially stigmatized in society. It is their birthright to make use of society's opportunities and amenities. This overview aimed to summarize the stigma, prejudice, exclusions, and discriminatory attitudes toward third-gender populations (Hijra) in Bangladesh from the mainstream society based on a critical assessment of available data and evidence. The paper also explored the socio-economic situation of the third-gender community in Bangladesh regarding income, education, health, housing, social relations, and outcome through a critical literature review. Here, we have highlighted the magnitudes of social exclusion that the Hijra minority group in Bangladesh experiences. The Hijra in Bangladesh faces severe mistreatment due to socio-cultural norms. This minority group suffers from extreme social, cultural, political, and economic exclusion in Bangladesh. Their livelihood is different than other communities in the society. The primary source of income for hijras in Bangladesh is begging and prostitution. They have no access within civil society, even in times of recreational and marital practices. People are unreasonably afraid of their presence in public places. Apart from that, they are physically and psychologically abused and deprived of appropriate medical and civil support. Hijras are deprived of government facilities and are accustomed to miserable lifestyles in Bangladesh. They are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged minority as they lack access to quality services, health care, and employment opportunities. Social recognition and financial independence may be the first step to alleviating discrimination toward the third-gender population. Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should be concerned about ensuring the rights of the Hijra community must be protected.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching effect on the education system, leading to some changes in the conventional education system. Educational institutions are adopting alternative methods to adapt to the changed situation. The purpose of this study is to explore the changes that have taken place in the education system due to the pandemic situation. A qualitative phenomenological approach has been used to conduct the study. To get a complete picture of the shifting paradigm of the education system, two interview methods such as In-depth Interviews (IDI), Key Informant Interviews (KII) have been adopted. Interviews were taken from 15 respondents. A purposive sampling technique has been used to reach the target sample. A semi-structured questionnaire has been developed to collect necessary data. The findings of this study showed that COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in various components of the education system. Curriculum, syllabus, assessment method, teaching method, learning method, etc., have changed in the education system. The elements of education are shifting from offline to online. The use of online-based learning materials is increasing. The curriculum has been made more flexible with a more compressed and shortened syllabus to suit the students learning under such unforeseen circumstances. Faculty should promote online study groups so that those groups can assist in providing additional support throughout specific courses. The education policy should be changed by the Bangladesh government to adapt to the changed situation.

Background and objectives: Natural disasters are harmful occurrences caused by the Earth's geological and meteorological processes. Bangladesh is recognized as one of the country's most vulnerable to natural disasters. Therefore, the people of Bangladesh remain at high risk of natural disasters. However, no study has been conducted in Bangladesh to provide an overall perspective on mental health issues that arise after natural disasters. Thus, this systematic review aims to identify all mental health issues and related risk factors brought on by natural disasters in Bangladesh.Study design: Systematic review.Methods: Between April to May 2024, a systematic search was conducted across many databases, including PubMed, following the PRISMA guideline. Ultimately, 17 publications were included in this study.Results: The findings reveal that depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and sleep disturbances are found as major risk factors for natural disasters. Prevalence of depression, anxiety and, stress, suicidal ideation ranges from 16.3% to 92.71%, 6% to 92.19%, 32.41% to 58%, 10.9% to 57.5% among people as consequences of natural disasters like heatwaves, cyclones, flood, river bank erosion etc. There are some associated risk factors which provoke prominent mental health problems, including (i) Demographic factors (age, gender, marital status, number of children, lower education, living location, living infrastructure, family conflicts, family member death, land for cultivation, loss of domestic animals), (ii) socio-economic factors (environmental settings, social support, disaster warning system, displacement, food crisis, financial support, income loss, vulnerable livelihoods) (iii) behavior and health-related factors (behavior pattern, physical injury during natural disaster, physical disability), (iv) other factors (increased temperature, living together, lower social class). People affected by natural disasters are often viewed in terms of their physical damage, while their mental health is always ignored.Conclusion: Calculative measures are needed to create an overall picture of the effect of natural disasters on people's mental health in Bangladesh. Therefore, the government needs to consider establishing potential measures to lessen the impact of natural disasters on people's mental health.

Women and adolescent girls in flood-prone regions of Bangladesh face significant challenges in managing menstrual hygiene, which severely impacts their health, dignity, and well-being. This study investigates the socio-cultural, infrastructural, and policy barriers to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) during floods in the districts of Noakhali, Feni, Barisal, Khulna, and Satkhira. Conducted from June to October 2024, the research employed a purposive sampling approach, with 30 in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted with women and adolescent girls directly affected by the floods. Additionally, 12 key informant interviews (KIIs) were carried out with healthcare workers, NGO representatives, and policymakers, alongside field observations in temporary shelters and relief centers. The findings highlight critical barriers, including the lack of accessible and private sanitation facilities in shelters, compounded by inadequate supplies of menstrual hygiene products. In temporary shelters, the absence of specialized toilets and waste disposal systems for menstruation forces women to resort to unhygienic alternatives such as cloth, leaves, or newspapers, leading to increased health risks. Socio-cultural taboos surrounding menstruation further restrict access to proper hygiene materials and support, intensifying the challenges. Moreover, disaster management systems fail to incorporate menstrual hygiene needs, leaving women and girls particularly vulnerable during floods. The study recommends integrating gender-responsive disaster management policies and comprehensive menstrual health education into disaster relief efforts. The Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) should be utilized to provide urgent reproductive health services. These findings are crucial for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers, and underscore the importance of reducing stigma and promoting dignity for women and girls. By addressing these gaps, Bangladesh can enhance the resilience and health of women and adolescent girls in the aftermath of floods.

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is essential for infant and child health. This study aimed to explore the trend in the EBF over the last decade in Bangladesh and investigated if there was a significant association with maternal employment by analyzing the data extracted from three consecutive nationally representative surveys: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) of 2011, 2014, and 2017–2018. Prevalence of EBF (95% confidence interval) with the Cochran-Armitage test was reported to see the trend in EBF. A chi-square (χ²) test was applied to find the potential factors associated with EBF. Finally, a three-level logistic regression was utilized to find the significant association between maternal employment and EBF while adjusting other covariates. We observed no increase in the practice of EBF over the last decade (P = 0.632). The prevalence of EBF was 64.9% (95% CI: 61.41, 68.18) in 2011, followed by 60.1% (95% CI: 56.25, 64) in 2014, and 64.9% (95% CI: 61.82, 67.91) in 2017. Regression results showed that employed mothers had 24% (p < 0.05) lower odds of EBF than unemployed mothers. Early initiation of breastfeeding was also found to be significantly associated [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.22, P < 0.05] with EBF. Government and policymakers must come forward with new interventions to increase the practice of EBF, providing basic education and campaigns on the topic of EBF. Maternity leave should be extended up to 6 months of the child's age to achieve an optimal level of EBF.