Dr. Mohammed Eunus Ali

Director

Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN)

On behalf of the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN), we reaffirm our strong commitment to advancing nutrition-sensitive urban health systems in Bangladesh at a time when rapid urbanisation is fundamentally reshaping how people live, eat, and access care.

Urban malnutrition is no longer a marginal issue, it is a systemic challenge driven by overcrowded cities, unsafe and unaffordable food environments, changing lifestyles, and limited availability of structured urban health and nutrition services. Compared to rural areas, urban settings continue to face significant gaps in trained human resources, facility readiness, and coordinated nutrition programming.

From IPHN’s perspective, addressing these challenges requires integrating nutrition services into urban primary healthcare, rather than treating nutrition as a standalone or emergency response. Strengthening policy alignment with the Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), local government institutions, and development partners is critical to ensure that urban residents—especially low-income and vulnerable populations—have access to quality nutrition services throughout the life cycle.

We also recognize the importance of workplace-based nutrition interventions, particularly maternity protection and breastfeeding support, as proven, cost-effective strategies with strong health and economic returns. Expanding such initiatives beyond a single sector, alongside improved monitoring and service uptake, can significantly improve maternal and child nutrition outcomes in urban settings.

Equally vital is the need to strengthen food safety governance at the city level. Safe, nutritious food must be accessible to all urban residents, and this demands coordinated enforcement, clear accountability, and collaboration across regulatory authorities, city corporations, civil society, and the private sector.

IPHN remains committed to working collaboratively to build urban nutrition capacity, scale integrated service models, support evidence-based policymaking, and ensure that nutrition is embedded within broader urban development and health system reforms. Together, these actions are essential to creating healthier, more equitable, and resilient cities for Bangladesh’s growing urban population.