On Tuesday, 7^th October 2025, icddr,b organized the Bangladesh Oxygen Summit 2025 at the InterContinental Dhaka under the theme “National Roadmap to Safe, Affordable and Reliable Medical Oxygen for All.”

The summit brought together policymakers, scientists, academicians, development partners, private sector representatives, and government officials to develop a unified strategy for universal oxygen access. Established in 2022 following an icddr,b-led study by Dr. Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, Scientist, Maternal and Child Health Division, the Bangladesh Commission on Medical Oxygen Security comprises 18 academic experts and 40 advisors from diverse sectors. Its mission is to ensure that no one dies due to lack of oxygen, even during global health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission’s landmark study emphasized the need for a national roadmap to strengthen plant capacity, develop a skilled biomedical workforce, decentralize maintenance facilities, and recognize oxygen as an essential public health service.

Representatives from DGHS, BBS, UNICEF, UNOPS, The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and many other private sector partners shared their insights on strengthening national oxygen systems.

The innovation session highlighted several indigenous technologies, including Bubble CPAP from icddr,b, OxyJet from BUET, the Nishshash Ventilator from DIU, and low-cost oxygen flow controller for BiPAP ventilator from AIUB, designed to improve respiratory care and optimize oxygen usage in low-resource settings.

Among the distinguished invitees, Dr. Mohammad Hasan Imam, Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering (FE), American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), was invited by icddr,b to deliver a technical talk within the Oxygen Research and Innovation track. AIUB’s research on ventilator oxygen regulation was one of only three works selected nationwide from non-clinical academic institutions alongside BUET and Daffodil International University(DIU).

The scientific poster, presented by Md. Sayzar Rahman Akash, Research Assistant at the Center for Biomedical Research (CBR), D2A2I, AIUB, and the technical talk were both based on findings from the team’s publication in IEEE Access, titled “Design and Performance Evaluation of a Low-Cost Non-Invasive Electromechanical Ventilator With Feedback Mechanism.”

The summit was supported by The Lancet Global Health, Every Breath Counts, and Unitaid, and concluded with a joint declaration recognizing medical oxygen as a human right and national priority. The Honorable Special Assistant to the Minister (State Minister Rank), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, attended as Chief Guest, while the inaugural address was delivered by Dr. Shams El Arifeen, Senior Scientist (Emeritus), icddr,b, and senior author of The Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security. Participants reaffirmed that equitable access to oxygen is fundamental not only to strengthening the health system but also to enhancing national resilience and preparedness for future public health emergencies.