The National Nutrition and Wellness Summit 2025 was held today, bringing together a diverse mix of youth leaders, nutrition experts, and civil society organizations committed to advancing nutrition, wellness, and food safety across Bangladesh. SERAC-Bangladesh was proud to serve as a supporting partner to this landmark event, which highlighted both the pressing challenges and the opportunities to build a healthier future for the country’s young generation.
The opening ceremony featured distinguished guests, including the Honourable Adviser (Minister) Ms. Sharmin S. Murshid of the Ministries of Social Welfare and Women & Children Affairs, and Mr. Saidur Rahman Khan, Director General of the Department of Social Services. SERAC-Bangladesh’s Executive Director, SM Shaikat, was invited as a special guest to deliver a keynote message emphasizing the critical importance of aligning policy with resources.
In his remarks, Shaikat noted: “Policy without a budget or resources is poetry. To deliver real impact, nutrition and food-safety commitments must be funded, enforced, and youth-centered.” He further highlighted that Bangladesh’s progress cannot rely solely on healthcare facilities, adding: “A healthy Bangladesh is not built only in hospitals, but in our kitchens, classrooms, and communities—where safe and nutritious food must be everyone’s right.”
The Summit provided a platform for dialogue on urgent nutrition gaps, from rising rates of child stunting and adolescent anemia to the growing risks of obesity and non-communicable diseases fueled by poor diet diversity and unsafe food practices. Food safety was a central theme, with participants raising concerns over adulteration, unsafe street food, and weak monitoring systems. The discussions underscored the role of climate change in worsening food security through salinity intrusion, flooding, and crop losses, all of which directly impact young people’s diets and well-being.
Importantly, the Summit elevated youth voices. Hundreds of young participants actively engaged with policymakers and nutritionists, bringing fresh perspectives on how schools, communities, and families can play a stronger role in promoting balanced diets and ensuring food safety. The event also served as a space to explore youth-led innovations and advocacy efforts that can complement national policy frameworks such as the National Nutrition Policy 2015, the Adolescent Health Strategy 2017–2030, and the National Food Safety Act.
SERAC-Bangladesh extends its gratitude to partner organizations — Uncora, Mission Green, Nirapad Alliance, Swapnopuri, Nutrification, and Heartwise Nutrition — for organizing this impactful summit. Their efforts, combined with the commitment of government and civil society stakeholders, demonstrate the growing momentum for collective action on nutrition and wellness.
As a youth-centered organization, SERAC-Bangladesh remains committed to empowering young people to shape and implement solutions that bridge the gaps between policy and practice. The National Nutrition and Wellness Summit 2025 reaffirmed the shared vision of a healthier, stronger Bangladesh — one where every child, adolescent, and young person has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.