NGO News

Sep62026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Call to Introduce Health Warning Labels on Ultra-Processed Foods Using Lessons from Tobacco Control

Public health advocates have called for the introduction of effective Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) on packages of ultra-processed foods in Bangladesh, using the experience of providing pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packages. They believe that consumers need to be provided with easy-to-understand information about the presence of excessive sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and other harmful ingredients in ultra-processed foods. Such labelling will help consumers make informed decisions and may play an important role in preventing non-communicable diseases.The issue was discussed at a meeting titled “Learning from Tobacco Control: Introducing FOPL on Ultra-Processed Food in Bangladesh”, held on Sunday (September 6) at 5:30 pm at the BTCA Secretariat meeting room in Shyamoli, D...

Sep12026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

“Reducing the Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases Is Not Possible Without Tobacco Control” — Health Minister

Breaking News, NGO News

Approximately 71 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and tobacco use is one of the major risk factors for these diseases. Therefore, tobacco control must be accorded the highest priority in addressing the burden of NCDs in Bangladesh, said Minister for Health and Family Welfare Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain.He said, “Prevention of non-communicable diseases is not possible without effective tobacco control. Effective measures must be taken to reduce tobacco use in order to protect public health and safeguard the younger generation from nicotine addiction.”The Minister made these remarks as the Chief Guest at a seminar titled “Actions to Control Non-Communicable Diseases and Protect Future Generations from the Harmful Effects of Tobacco a...

Aug262026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Call for ‘Front-of-Package Labelling’ to Curb Diet-Related NCDs- Speakers at Journalists’ Workshop

Breaking News, NGO News

The consumption of ultra-processed packaged foods high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats is rapidly rising among people of all ages, including children, adolescents and young adults in Bangladesh. At the same time, diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasing alarmingly. In this context, clear warning labels or Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL) can play a crucial role in preventing NCDs.These issues were highlighted by speakers at a two-day long journalists' workshop titled "Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL) in Bangladesh: Importance, Progress and Way Forward," held on August 24-25 at the BIP Conference Room in Dhaka. Twenty-six (26) journalists from print, television and online media attended the workshop organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from t...

Aug252026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Bangladesh Rural Development Board Declared Tobacco-Free to Protect Public Health

Breaking News, NGO News

To protect public health and safeguard non-smokers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, all 566 offices of the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB), including its headquarters, have been declared completely tobacco-free areas in accordance with government directives.The declaration was made by BRDB Director General (Additional Secretary) A.K.M. Tarek at a discussion meeting titled “Declaration of All Bangladesh Rural Development Board Offices as Tobacco-Free”, held on Monday, 24 August 2026, at the conference room of the BRDB headquarters.Speaking as the chief guest, he said that the harmful effects of smoking are not limited to smokers; non-smokers are also exposed to serious health risks. On the other hand, smokeless tobacco products can cause various serious diseas...

Aug202026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Chattogram Metropolitan Police honors two road safety advocates with Excellence Award

Breaking News, NGO News

The Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) has honored Quazi Helal Uddin and Labib Tazone Labib with the Road Safety Excellence Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions, dedication and commitment to improving road safety, reducing road crashes and saving lives in Chattogram.The award was presented by Hossain Mohammad Kabir Bheuiyan, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic), on behalf of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police.Labib Tazone Labib serves as the Initiative Coordinator for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) in Chattogram. In this role, he has demonstrated leadership in strengthening collaboration among the city corporation, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to advance evidence-based road safety initiatives.Qu...

Aug202026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Three-Day Training Concludes to Strengthen Clinical Capacity for Women’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Breaking News, NGO News

The three-day clinical training on “Comprehensive Care for Substance Use Disorder (WISE) – Course 1: Clinical Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders” concluded today with a closing ceremony aimed at strengthening the capacity of treatment professionals to provide gender-responsive, evidence-based and compassionate care for women affected by substance use disorders.The training was jointly organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) and ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter under the Women’s Intervention of Substance Exposure (WISE) programme and was held from 18–20 August 2026. The curriculum for the training was developed and dedicated by the Colombo Plan, focusing specifically on the clinical care and treatment needs of women with substance use disorders.Prof. Dr. Golam Rahman attended the ...

Aug202026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

BSTI Mandates Edible Oil Refineries To Adopt Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (Dfqt+) System

Breaking News, NGO News

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), under the Ministry of Industries and in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), hosted the "DFQT+ System User Engagement Workshop" today at Aloki, Tejgaon, Dhaka. The event marked the official rollout of the data-sharing mandate, making digital data entry into the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) system mandatory for all edible oil refineries across the country under updated BSTI licensing terms.The initiative, implemented under the project "Digitization of Fortification of Edible Oil for Improved Monitoring, Quality Control and Capacity Building," aims to ensure effective vitamin 'A' fortification, quality control, and full supply chain traceability for edible oil distributed ...

Aug182026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

WISE Training Strengthens Treatment Capacity for Women with Substance Use Disorders

Breaking News, NGO News

Press Release: Dhaka, Aug 18, 2026 : A three-day clinical training programme aimed at strengthening gender-responsive and evidence-based treatment services for women with substance use disorders began in Dhaka on Monday.The training is being jointly organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and the ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter under the Women’s Intervention of Substance Exposure (WISE) programme.Titled “Comprehensive Care for Substance Use Disorder (WISE) – Course 1: Clinical Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders,” the training is being held from August 18 to 20, 2026.The course seeks to enhance participants’ clinical knowledge, practical skills and professional competencies to provide effective, trauma-informed and culturally responsive treatment tailored to the specific needs of w...

Aug172026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

768 Public Transport Drivers Trained Under BRTA and DAM Initiative

Breaking News, NGO News

As part of a capacity-building initiative to ensure a sustainable smoke-free public transport system, a total of 768 public transport drivers have been trained under the initiative of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) with the support of Dhaka Ahsania Mission.According to a press release issued by Dhaka Ahsania Mission, the program titled “Professional Skills and Awareness Development Training for Professional Drivers” was conducted in four phases during August 2026 at the Joar Sahara BRTC Bus Depot in the capital.During the training sessions, Adut Rahman Imon, Program Officer of the Tobacco Control Project of the organization, presented audio-visual materials highlighting the implementation of tobacco control laws and the health hazards of tobacco use. Participants we...

Aug142026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Drug Addiction Should Be Viewed as a Treatable Illness, Not a Crime: Expert

Breaking News, NGO News

Drug addiction is neither a crime nor merely a lack of willpower; rather, it is a treatable chronic illness that has profound impacts on an individual’s mental health and family life. Drug addiction has a close relationship with various mental health disorders, a condition medically known as “dual diagnosis.” Alongside professional treatment, family awareness, emotional support, and a positive family environment are crucial to ensuring the sustainable recovery of individuals struggling with addiction.The remarks were made by psychiatrist Dr. Rahanul Islam, Central Drug Addiction Treatment Center (Dhaka), as the keynote speaker at a special “Family Education Meeting” organized for the family members of clients undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Ahsania Mission Women’s Drug Addiction Trea...