Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Becomes a Dementia Friend
Muhammad Talha
Her Excellency Abida Islam, Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, has made history by becoming the first serving High Commissioner to formally become a Dementia Friend, marking a significant milestone in global dementia awareness, leadership and inclusion.
The Dementia Friends session was delivered by Emdad Rahman, a Dementia Friends Ambassador and long standing community advocate, whose work has focused on tackling stigma, widening access to support and building dementia friendly communities across the UK. The session highlighted the human impact of dementia and the role leaders can play in changing attitudes and outcomes.
By taking this step, Her Excellency sends a powerful national and international message that dementia is a shared societal issue, not a private struggle. With dementia affecting millions of people worldwide, including families within diaspora and migrant communities, this leadership moment helps elevate understanding across diplomatic, civic and community spaces.
The training reinforced the five key Dementia Friends messages:
• Dementia is not a natural part of ageing
• It is caused by diseases of the brain
• It is not just about memory loss
• It is possible to live well with dementia
• Small actions can make a big difference
Her Excellency’s commitment is expected to encourage earlier conversations, reduce fear and stigma, and prompt more people to seek help and support. It also strengthens global conversations on ageing, health equity and compassionate leadership.
Her Excellency Abida Islam, Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, said: “Becoming a Dementia Friend is both a personal commitment and a leadership responsibility. Dementia affects families across all communities, cultures and borders, yet it is too often met with silence or misunderstanding.
“By learning, speaking openly and taking small but meaningful actions, we can reduce stigma, promote dignity and help ensure that people living with dementia feel seen, supported and valued in every part of society.”
Emdad Rahman MBE added: “This is a historic and deeply meaningful moment. When senior leaders step forward, it validates the experiences of people living with dementia and their families. Awareness begins at the top, but its impact reaches everyone.”
Dementia Friends is an initiative led by Alzheimer’s Society, delivered by trained volunteers across the UK, empowering individuals and organisations to take practical action in supporting people affected by dementia.
This milestone represents progress towards more inclusive, informed and dementia-friendly communities, locally, nationally and globally.