Background: Bangladesh’s health system struggles with affordability, quality, and responsiveness, hindering Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. To address this, Bangladesh Health Watch (BHW) established regional chapters (RCs) in hard-to-reach districts, creating Health/Youth Health Rights Forums (HRFs/YHRFs) supported by local NGOs (host organizations (HOs)) to amplify grassroots voices in reforming health governance.

Methodology: A formative study conducted between September 2022 and August 2023 across four strategically selected districts explored the effectiveness of these forums in addressing local healthcare issues and their sustainability. The study utilized observations, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with healthcare service providers and users.

Findings: RCs, in partnership with HOs, were key to the establishment and functioning of these community-driven forums. The HRFs provided a vital platform for marginalized communities to voice health needs, advocate for improved services, and promote community engagement in health-related decision-making. While some HRFs demonstrated a strong commitment, the role of HOs was pivotal in organizing and overseeing events. The YHRFs faced challenges related to unclear roles, unmet career expectations, financial constraints, and a disconnect with higher authorities. Community-led meetings facilitated dialogue between service users, providers, and local authorities, fostering collaboration for improved service delivery. However, the forums struggled with coordination during multistakeholder meetings, where authorities and members could better understand each other’s roles for future joint initiatives.

Conclusion: Community-driven forums are essential for advancing responsive and just health systems. This study highlights the role of grassroots engagement in achieving UHC and prioritizing public health as a national issue.