Khulna, Bangladesh

Bangladesh, the world’s eighth most populous country, is home to an estimated 175.7 million people in 2025. Khulna has seen rapid population growth driven by migration from southern regions. Bangladesh is undergoing an epidemiological transition, with noncommunicable diseases now the leading cause of death.

Phase 1 (2020 - 2024) achievements 

• The establishment of a Healthy City committee – composed of an Advisory and Technical committees - overseeing and coordinating the implementation of the Initiative.
• The development of a “Khulna Healthy City Action Plan”, a 4-year plan to facilitate cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration. Priorities in the plan include: 1) Integration of the Health-in-all-policies approach; 2) Promotion of healthy lifestyles and primary health care services; 3) Strengthening good governance and multi-sectoral coordination.
• A city-wide community-led campaign implemented to promote healthy diets, physical activity, and city cleanliness, through various events and social media campaigns, as well as in nine selected schools, involving students, teachers and guardians.
• Six MoU signatory organizations issued formal administrative orders banning tobacco use within their premises and promoting healthy food options and active breaks in meetings, training sessions, seminars, and workshops.
• Two Urbanlead cohort trainings held with 13 participants from key government, academic, and civil society institutions.
• Khulna City formally joined the South-East Asia Regional Healthy Cities Network (SEAR-HCN) in 2023. The ongoing institutionalization of a Healthy City multi-stakeholders coordination platform under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by 11 city stakeholders.

Phase 2 (2025 - 2028) priorities 

Phase 2 In Phase 2, Khulna City is planning to focus on:

1. Ensuring the sustainability of the Healthy City Platform and multisectoral collaboration to promote health and well-being, WHO will prioritise advocacy to integrate the Advisory Committee meetings into the Khulna City Corporation's annual financial work plan.
2. Organizing community engagement meetings jointly with policymakers to facilitate community voice and participation in decision-making processes.
3. Prioritizing a settings-based approach, in particular schools and workplaces.