In a move to protect public health and safeguard people from the harms of secondhand smoke, the Chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Mr. Mohammed Yasin (Grade-1), announced that all BRTA offices across the country will be made 100% smoke-free. He also called on relevant authorities to install anti-smoking and awareness signage in these offices to help create a smoke-free environment.
Additionally, Mr. Yasin suggested that the BRTA, in collaboration with members of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission Youth Forum, should implement awareness programs in bus terminals, BRTA circle office premises, and other relevant areas to promote public awareness on the issue.
Marking World No Tobacco Day 2025, a discussion meeting titled “Actions to Ensure Smoke-Free Public Transport” was jointly organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and BRTA on Thursday, 29 May 2025, at the BRTA conference room. During the event, Mr. Yasin emphasized the need for mobile courts, led by magistrates, to take strict action against violations of tobacco control laws at bus terminals and on public transportation. He also stressed that drivers and their assistants must be held accountable if smoking occurs inside vehicles.
The meeting was presided over by BRTA Chairman (Grade-1) Mr. Md. Yasin, while Dr. Mohammad Khalilullah, Vice President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, delivered the welcome speech.
In the keynote presentation, Mr. Shariful Islam, Project Coordinator of Dhaka Ahsania Mission’s Tobacco Control Project, highlighted that according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017, around 37.8 million people in Bangladesh use tobacco products. Of them, 19.2 million are smokers, and nearly 40 million non-smokers are exposed to secondhand smoke. The survey also showed that 44% of people are exposed to secondhand smoke in public transportation.
Speakers noted that passengers—especially women and children—are at serious risk due to smoking by drivers and their assistants on public transport, suffering similar health harms even if they don’t smoke.
They also emphasized that to make all public transport under BRTA 100% smoke-free, the BRTA must develop effective implementation plans to enforce the penalties outlined in the Tobacco Control Law, which prohibits smoking in public places and transport. These measures should ensure that neither drivers, assistants, nor passengers are allowed to smoke in public vehicles.
Furthermore, speakers advocated for raising awareness among transport owners and operators about the health risks of tobacco use and the provisions of the amended Tobacco Control Law. They also recommended including anti-smoking messages on bus tickets to reinforce public awareness.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Highway Police DIG Mr. Muntasirul Islam, Vice President of the Road Transport Owners Association Professor Iqbal Hossain, DNCC Executive Magistrate Mr. Shahidul Islam, Traffic Police Assistant Commissioner Mr. Delwar Hossain, BRTA Director (Engineering) Mr. Shitangshu Shekhar Biswas, BRTA Director (Enforcement) Ms. Nazneen Hossain, and Deputy Director of Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Mr. Mukhlesur Rahman, along with other senior BRTA officials.