Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will take effective measures to protect public health, safeguard people from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, and strengthen tobacco control, said DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md. Khaybar Rahman.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion meeting titled “Way Forward for Ensuring a 100% Smoke-Free and Tobacco-Free Environment in Dhaka South City Corporation”, jointly organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) and DSCC at the DSCC conference room on Wednesday afternoon (28 October 2026).
Assistant Health Officer Dr. Nur Hossain delivered a presentation on DSCC’s ongoing tobacco control activities and outlined its plans in this regard. On behalf of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Health and Nutrition Sector, presented the keynote paper.
Citing data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), Mukhlesur Rahman stated that approximately 37.8 million people in Bangladesh use tobacco products, while around 19.2 million people smoke. Nearly 40 million people are exposed to second-hand smoke despite not smoking themselves. According to GATS 2017, approximately 42% of people who do not smoke are exposed to second-hand smoke in workplaces. Key contributing factors include limited awareness of tobacco control laws, the easy availability of tobacco products, inadequate enforcement of existing legislation, and the deceptive tactics employed by tobacco companies.
Speakers at the meeting observed that smoking is frequently practised indiscriminately in workplaces, exposing non-smokers to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. They emphasised the need to take necessary measures to ensure that all workplaces remain 100% smoke-free to protect everyone from the adverse health effects of second-hand smoke.
They also recommended taking action to prohibit smoking at bus terminals, restaurants, and other public places under DSCC’s jurisdiction, including through mobile court operations where necessary.
The speakers called for issuing appropriate directives to keep workplaces and surrounding areas smoke-free, installing smoke-free signage, and ensuring that all DSCC offices remain completely smoke-free, with no designated smoking zones.
They further noted that although tobacco advertising is prohibited, tobacco companies are strategically using retail outlets as platforms to promote their products. They urged DSCC to take strong measures to prevent violations of tobacco control laws in markets, public places, and commercial establishments under its jurisdiction.
In addition, the speakers stressed the importance of allocating funds for tobacco control activities in the city corporation’s upcoming budget and ensuring the effective utilisation of those funds to establish smoke-free environments. They also called for expanding social media campaigns to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco, particularly encouraging young people to take an active role in these efforts.
The meeting was chaired by DSCC Chief Health Officer Dr. Jahane Ferdous Binte Rahman. Other attendees included Assistant Health Officer Dr. Nur Hossain, DSCC Secretary Mashiur Rahman Khan, and other senior officials of DSCC.