60,000 to 70,000 people live with the hereditary blood disorder and that around 6,000 patients die each year because of inadequate access to regular blood transfusions and iron-chelation therapy.
DHAKA, Aug. 2, 2026: Bangladesh Thalassemia Samiti honored veteran voluntary blood donor Hamid Jamil Hossain with the prestigious Blood Donor Award-2026 in recognition of his 44 voluntary blood donations and his longstanding commitment to saving the lives of thalassemia patients across Bangladesh.
Thousands of people living with thalassemia in Bangladesh depend on regular blood transfusions to survive, making voluntary blood donation one of the country's most critical humanitarian services.
The recognition reflects the Bangladesh Thalassemia Samiti's ongoing efforts to encourage voluntary blood donation and ensure a safe and adequate blood supply for patients requiring lifelong transfusions.
He received the award from Chief Guest Dr. Zubaida Rahman at a prize distribution ceremony held at the Engineers Institution, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium in Dhaka on July 31 as part of the Bangladesh Thalassemia Samiti's observance of World Blood Donor Day.
He also received a commemorative crest and certificate in recognition of his long-standing humanitarian contribution.
The Bangladesh Thalassemia Samiti honored 170 regular blood donors and 41 voluntary organizations and institutions for their outstanding contributions to voluntary blood donation in Bangladesh. Among the recipients, 120 donors were recognized for donating blood five or more times, while 50 donors received awards for donating blood ten or more times.
Other awardees include Mahmudul Hasan Robel and Tuhin Hossain, General Managers of Trade International; Shahriar Ahmed, President of the Business Development Club at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology; Mostakim, Adviser to the Youth Club of Bangladesh; and Advocate Mahbub Alam, President of the Rotary Club of Dhaka Karwan Bazar.
Dr. Zubaida Rahman, Vice President of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, attended the event as the chief guest, while Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain was present as the special guest. Representatives from healthcare institutions, voluntary organizations and civil society also attended the ceremony.
Currently serving as a senior official at a foreign embassy in Dhaka, Hamid Jamil Hossain has spent the past 14 years supporting thalassemia patients through voluntary blood donation and awareness campaigns.
Speaking on behalf of the award recipients, he said his commitment has been inspired by his religious values and deep sense of humanitarian responsibility.
He thanked the Bangladesh Thalassemia Samiti for the recognition and pledged to continue donating blood whenever medically eligible, saying that collective humanitarian efforts can save lives and inspire others.
"This recognition as one of the top blood donors is not merely an honor; it represents a greater responsibility to continue serving society," Hamid said.
Highlighting the importance of regular blood donation, he recalled two children of one of his former teachers who are living with thalassemia.
"A single bag of blood can mean a new lease on life for a thalassemia patient. Voluntary blood donation not only saves lives but also gives donors the opportunity to fulfill a humanitarian, social, and moral responsibility," he added.
Hamid expressed hope that more young people would come forward as regular voluntary blood donors, saying every donation has the power to save lives and ensure a safe blood supply for thousands of thalassemia patients across Bangladesh.
Founded in 1992, the Bangladesh Thalassemia Samiti has been working to improve treatment services, promote voluntary blood donation, and raise nationwide awareness of thalassemia.
Speakers at the event said Bangladesh faces a growing thalassemia burden, noting that an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 people live with the hereditary blood disorder and that around 6,000 patients die each year because of inadequate access to regular blood transfusions and iron-chelation therapy.
According to landmark survey data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), 11.4 percent of the national population—representing over 17 million people—carries the thalassemia gene, with carrier rates surging as high as 27.7 percent in the Rangpur division.
With an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 children born with the condition annually, health experts continue to urge the government to institute mandatory premarital screening and build a centralized patient registry to prevent the national caseload from doubling over the next decade.
