Young people can play a decisive role in ending Bangladesh’s blood shortage if they donate blood regularly, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam said on Tuesday.
“About 28 percent of our total population is young. These young people can completely eliminate the country’s blood shortage. If they donate blood regularly at least once a year, there will never be a blood shortage in Bangladesh,” he said.
The DU vice-chancellor was speaking as the chief guest at a voluntary blood donor recognition programme organised by voluntary organisation Quantum Foundation at the IDEB Bhaban in the capital on Tuesday evening.
More than 300 voluntary blood donors who had donated blood at least three, 10, 25 or 50 times were honoured at the programme. Obaidul Islam handed certificates, crests and medals to the donors to encourage them to continue their voluntary service.
He described the donor recognition programme as a special occasion reflecting new ideas for building a “new Bangladesh”.
“The contribution of voluntary blood donors to meeting the country’s overall blood demand will be written in golden letters. Voluntary blood donors are the pioneers in building a humane Bangladesh,” he said.
The DU VC also said patriotism should not be confined to emotions or slogans.
“Doing one’s work honestly and standing beside vulnerable people are the real expressions of patriotism,” he said.
Kazi Hasan Ali, a platinum donor who has donated blood 51 times, Rejeka Sultana, a golden donor who has donated 26 times, and Masuma Hossain Tanni, a regular blood recipient living with thalassaemia, shared their experiences at the event.
Prof Dr Mohammad Ashik Mosaddik, pro-vice-chancellor of East West University, chaired the programme, while M Rezaul Hasan, director of Quantum’s voluntary blood donation programme, delivered the welcome address.
Speakers said Quantum Lab, supported by a donor pool of more than 550,000 people, has provided blood and blood components to help save the lives of more than 1.8 million critically ill patients since its blood donation programme began in 2000 through August 2026.
According to the organisers, the donor pool includes 196 platinum donors who have donated blood 50 or more times, 3,138 golden donors who have donated 25 to 49 times, and 13,083 silver donors who have donated 10 to 24 times.
More than 58,000 lifelong donors have donated blood at least three times, they said.
The speakers expressed gratitude to all voluntary blood donors associated with Quantum Lab and called on more young people to come forward and participate in voluntary blood donation to help meet the country’s blood requirements.
