The Bangladesh Chapter of International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) was officially launched to further strengthen substance/drug use prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives in the country.The launching ceremony was held at the Health Sector conference room of Dhaka Ahsania Mission in Shyamoli, Dhaka on 05th March 2026. It was a hybrid event organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
The event was chaired by eminent psychiatrist Professor Dr. M. A. Mohit Kamal.
Professor of Psychotherapy and Psychiatry & Drug Addiction Specialist, Senior - Chief Consultant (Psychiatry & Psychotherapy), LABAID Cardiac Hospital and Chair, Advisory Committee, ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter.
Special guests were Mr. Md. Bahauddin, Deputy Director of the Department of Narcotics Control; Professor Dr. Golam Rahman, President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission; Mr. Abu Taher, National Programme Coordinator, UNODC Bangladesh; Mr. Jahangir Alam, Special Reporter of United News of Bangladesh (UNB); Ms. Marjana Muntaha, Coordinator, Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing and Dr. Olha Myshakivska, National Chapters Coordinator of ISSUP.
The one of presenters was Mr. Iqbal Masud, Director of the Health and WASH Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Member Secretary of the ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter and he stated that substance use is currently a major public health and social concern, significantly affecting individuals, families and communities. To addressing this challenge needs a combination of scientific knowledge, professional skills, coordinated action, and a humane approach and ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter has been started journey to brought together national and international experts, policymakers, development partners, youth leaders, and professionals.He also emphasized that the ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter will serve as an important national platform to foster such coordinated efforts.
The other presenter was Dr. Olha Myshakivska, National Chapters Coordinator of ISSUP was shared about the ISSUP Global it’s goal, interventions and the national chapters. She mentioned that now-a-day the total 44 national chapter has been formed and ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter is one of it. She congratulated the committee members and Dhaka Ahsania Mission as well.
The event chair Professor Dr. M A Muhit Kamal has extended his gratitude to the to the Dhaka Ahsania Mission for taking the responsibilities as host organization of the ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter. He said that it is the right time to create a platform for working together against drug abuse.
Mr. Md. Bahauddin, Deputy Director of the Department of Narcotics Control said that to get a better result need to work together and ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter is the national platform where the multi-stakeholders canget the opportunities to work together against drug abuse. He also thanked to ISSUP Global for considering the necessity of the national chapter in Bangladesh and providing the necessary support in this regard.
Ms. Marjana Muntaha, Coordinator, Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeinghas shared her vision about the youth involvement in the ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter as youths are mostly affected for the drug abuse.
Above 50 participants were attended the event in-person and above 100 participants were joined virtually through the online webinar of Launching Ceremony of ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter.
During the event, the official committee of the ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter was announced by Mr. Iqbal Masud, Member Secretary, and the Chapter’s logo was unveiled by the honorable guests and committee members of ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter.
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