In a rapidly changing world where youth activism is reshaping everything from climate policy to social justice, a new wave of Bangladeshi teenagers is making its mark in an unexpected yet vital sector: public health.
Armed with innovation, empathy, and a determination to challenge long-standing taboos, these young changemakers are leading efforts to address mental health stigma, blood donation shortages, and health education disparities. Many are still in school—some barely old enough to ride a scooter—but their work is gaining attention from institutions and organizations worldwide.
This is not a story of future leaders waiting their turn. These teenagers are leading now.
Fatin Sadab – Building Tech for Social Safety
At just 18, Fatin Sadab is at the helm of several national initiatives combining technology with social impact. His app BloodBag has matched over 1,200 donors with patients, helping an estimated 41,000 people across Bangladesh. He also launched Protirodh, the country’s first crime-reporting app, which attracted over a million users within a week and has already facilitated legal aid for dozens of survivors.
Fatin’s mental health project Solace To Youth supports over 2,000 teenagers with resources and peer counseling. He also curates The BD Daily, a blog spotlighting public figures who speak out about their mental health journeys. His contributions have earned him national and international recognition, including the BASIS National ICT Award and the Resolution Fellowship.
Tamzid Rahman – Turning Code into Care
At age 17, Tamzid Rahman has already established himself as a health tech innovator. He founded The Blood Project and developed BloodLink, now Bangladesh’s largest peer-to-peer blood donation app. The platform has helped save more than 1,200 lives, including hundreds of children suffering from conditions like thalassemia and dengue.
Tamzid’s initiatives have attracted more than $50,000 in grants from organizations such as Emergent Ventures and The Pollination Project. In addition to his health-tech work, he co-founded Free Flow, a menstrual health startup that gained traction on Shark Tank Bangladesh. He is also developing a stealth-mode AI company focused on healthcare solutions.
Rudra Chowdhury Turjo – Normalizing Mental Health Conversations
Rudra Chowdhury Turjo, 17, is helping dismantle mental health stigma among teens in Bangladesh. In 2021, he founded Teens Saver Bangladesh, the country’s first youth-led organization dedicated exclusively to teen mental health. Through school campaigns and the Kotha Shuni counseling program, the initiative has supported more than 350 teens.
He also launched Teens Tune, a mental health podcast run by teenagers, and Science Simulab, a virtual science lab designed to make STEM learning accessible and engaging. His efforts have earned him the International Volunteer Award and recognition at national innovation competitions.
Suhana – Creating Safe Spaces for Teens
Fifteen-year-old Suhana is the founder of The Talk Hope Project, a peer-led mental health initiative focused on awareness and suicide prevention. Through over 200 workshops and school visits, her team has reached more than 5,000 students. More than 500 young people have received personalized support through her efforts.
Suhana’s advocacy emphasizes peer-to-peer education, aiming to empower teenagers with the knowledge and empathy needed to support each other. Her work was recently recognized with a nomination for the 2024 International Children’s Peace Prize.
Tanzim Redwan – Researching Health, Educating Youth
Tanzim Redwan, also 15, is making waves in public health research. As the founder of Project Q2, he leads a team of student researchers exploring real-world issues. His pioneering study on adolescent malnutrition in Bangladesh is the first in the country to apply the Best Worst Method (BWM) to rank socio-economic causes. Published in Springer, the paper received over 800 accesses—well above average for studies in the field.
Tanzim is also a Global Health Leader’s Conference Scholar held by the Johns Hopkins University. He also founded MAANUSH, a nonprofit supporting underprivileged youth through education and health awareness. He is a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Undergraduate Microbiology Society.
A Youth Movement in Motion
Together, these teenagers represent a powerful shift in how young people in Bangladesh are engaging with public health. They are not content with raising awareness alone; they are building platforms, conducting original research, and delivering services that directly impact thousands.
Their work also challenges perceptions—both within and outside Bangladesh—about what young people are capable of. In communities where mental health is still a taboo and access to healthcare remains unequal, these teens are providing hope and driving change.
From slum schools to international conferences, from coding apps in bedrooms to pitching solutions to global investors, they are demonstrating that youth leadership is not a future ideal—it is a present reality.
The Road Ahead
While their ages may range from 15 to 18, the maturity and scale of their work are prompting institutions to take note. They are forming partnerships with NGOs, securing funding from global foundations, and being invited to international fellowships and research networks.
What unites them is not only their youth, but their shared belief that public health is everyone’s responsibility—and that waiting for change is not an option.
As Bangladesh continues to grapple with challenges in health access, stigma, and youth engagement, this generation of teenage leaders is already reshaping the narrative.
And for anyone wondering what the future of public health looks like—it may be wearing a school uniform, typing out code, or presenting research in front of a global audience. Because in Bangladesh, the health revolution isn’t coming. It’s already here.