The International Stroke Conference 2025 was held at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) Sunday, November 9, 2025. The important International Stroke Conference will play a major role in increasing public awareness about stroke, stroke prevention, information exchange, international training and ensuring modern treatment of stroke. On the occasion of this international conference, a scientific session titled ‘Transformation of Acute Stroke Care and Development of Next Generation Neurointervention services in BMU’ was organized. The slogan of this year’s conference was ‘Unite for Stroke’. While experts mentioned that stroke is still the leading cause of death and disability in Bangladesh, most of it is preventable. BMU’s Department of Neurology organized the conference at Shaheed Dr. Milon Hall. The chief guest was BMU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam.  Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. presided over the inaugural ceremony. Md. Abul Kalam Azad. The special guests at the said international conference were Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman Howlader, Treasurer Professor Dr. Nahrin Akhtar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Professor Dr. Shamim Ahmed, Registrar Nazrul Islam, Director of NINS&H Professor Dr. Kazi Gias Uddin Ahmed, Director (Medical Education) of BHRUT Professor Gideon Malwa. The welcome speaker was Professor Dr. Md. Bahadur Ali Mia, Chairman of the Department of Neurology.
In his speech as the chief guest, Vice-Chancellor of BMU, Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam said, the International Stroke Conference will open new horizons in the field of stroke treatment management. With the help of foreign experts, the latest treatment of stroke will be ensured at BMU. The presence of foreign experts in today’s international conference will make a great contribution to the advanced treatment of stroke in the country. Other speakers emphasized stroke management, prevention, multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches, etc.
This conference was mainly an important gathering of public awareness, timely medical intervention, positive lifestyle changes and international cooperation. Experts said that despite the progress in medical science, public awareness is still very low. Millions of people in Bangladesh still cannot identify the early signs of stroke, resulting in delay in seeking help and many patients lose the chance to survive. They said that everyone should know the acronym FAST in the case of stroke. Such as Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services. If this disease can be identified early, both life and brain can be saved. In case of stroke, every minute is valuable as first aid. Experts also said that if modern medical methods are started on time, it is possible to save the life and brain of the patient. It is now the need of the hour to establish specialized stroke care centers in every region of the country that are capable of providing rapid treatment according to the needs of the country’s patients. Experts at the conference said that about 80 percent of strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes. Community-level interventions are essential to control high blood pressure, avoid smoking and unhealthy diet, and combat physical inactivity. Stroke prevention education must be included from schools to workplaces, and even urban planning. Speakers at the conference emphasized global guideline coordination, information exchange, and expansion of international training. They also noted that sustainable development of stroke prevention and treatment systems is not possible without global cooperation. They also noted that this conference will be considered a new milestone in the transformation of the stroke care system in Bangladesh and the development of next-generation neurointervention services through international cooperation. Edited Dr. Saiful Azam Ranju.