To protect public health and safeguard non-smokers from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has officially declared all of its premises as 100% smoke and tobacco-free in line with the national directive.
The declaration was made on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, during a discussion meeting titled “Declaration of the Department of Agricultural Extension as a 100% Smoke and Tobacco-Free Institution” held at the conference room of the Department of Agricultural Extension. The declaration was announced by Dr. Md. Hazrat Ali, Director (Horticulture Wing) of the Department.
Addressing the event as the chief guest, Dr. Hazrat Ali said that the harmful effects of smoking are not limited to smokers alone; non-smokers are equally vulnerable to the dangers of second-hand smoke. He further noted that smokeless tobacco products also cause oral cancer and several other serious diseases, posing a significant threat to public health. Therefore, from today onwards, the use, sale, and promotion of all tobacco products—including cigarettes, biris, zarda, gul, and sada pata—will be completely prohibited on all premises of the Department of Agricultural Extension. This decision has been taken to protect officers, staff members, and service recipients from the harmful effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Delivering the welcome remarks, AHM Noman, Founder and CEO of DORP, said that Bangladesh is one of the world’s largest consumers of tobacco. Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh has the highest tobacco use prevalence at 35.3%, compared to 28.6% in India and 19.1% in Pakistan. He emphasized that effective tobacco control measures are now an urgent necessity.
Presenting the keynote paper, Zeba Afroza, Tobacco Control Project Coordinator, stated that according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017, approximately 38.4 million adults in Bangladesh are exposed to second-hand smoke every day in workplaces, public places, and public transport. Nearly 42.7% of adults are exposed to second-hand smoke in indoor workplaces. In addition, more than 61,000 children under the age of 15 suffer from diseases caused by second-hand smoke.
She further mentioned that, according to a study by Johns Hopkins University, the Government of Bangladesh collected approximately BDT 41,000 crore in tobacco tax revenue during the 2024–25 fiscal year. In contrast, the economic cost of tobacco-related deaths, illness, and environmental damage amounted to nearly BDT 87,000 crore—more than double the revenue generated from the tobacco sector.
She also highlighted that tobacco cultivation occupies vast areas of arable land, reducing opportunities to grow food and other more profitable crops. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in tobacco farming degrades soil fertility and productivity while causing long-term environmental damage. In contrast, cultivating alternative high-value crops on the same land can provide farmers with greater income while simultaneously protecting both the environment and public health.
She added that tobacco use has become an increasing threat to public health, the economy, and the environment. At this critical juncture, the Department of Agricultural Extension’s initiative serves as a model for advancing a tobacco-free Bangladesh.
Presiding over the meeting, Dr. Salma Laiju, Director (Crops Wing) of the Department of Agricultural Extension, said that the Department remains firmly committed to ensuring a tobacco-free environment in the interest of public health. Through this initiative, nearly 86,000 officers and staff working in around 600 DAE offices across the country, along with countless farmers and service recipients visiting these offices every day, will be better protected from the harmful effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke. She expressed optimism that the collective efforts of all officials and employees would further strengthen the country’s tobacco control initiatives.
Following the meeting, public notices, signboards, and stickers promoting smoke-free and tobacco-free premises were installed at key locations within the Department of Agricultural Extension.