NGO News Archives - TheStatement24

Apr302026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Demand for Effective Taxation on Tobacco Products in the Upcoming Budget

To safeguard public health, the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) has called for the implementation of a strong tax policy, including effective taxation and price increases on tobacco products in the upcoming 2026–27 national budget. This demand was raised during a discussion meeting titled “The Importance of Effective Tobacco Taxation in the Upcoming 2026–27 National Budget,” jointly organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and BSRF at the CIRDAP auditorium on Thursday (30 April 2026). The chief guest at the event, Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division (World Health Wing), Sheikh Momina Moni, stated that the easy availability of tobacco products in Bangladesh is significantly increasing smoking rates among youth and low-income populations, posing a serious threat t...

Apr282026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Youth Demand Effective Taxation on Tobacco Products to Protect Public Health

Breaking News, NGO News

To advocate for effective taxation and price increases on tobacco products in the upcoming national budget for FY 2026–27, Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing organized a press conference today (April 28, 2026) at the auditorium of Dhaka Ahsania Mission in the capital. Speakers at the press conference stated that the easy availability of tobacco products in Bangladesh has led to an alarming rise in tobacco use among youth and low-income populations. Each year, nearly 200,000 people die prematurely due to tobacco-related diseases, accounting for more than 18% of total deaths in the country. To prevent these premature deaths, it is crucial to make tobacco products unaffordable for young people, which can be achieved through effective taxation and price increases. They furt...

Apr282026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Call for Effective Tobacco Tax and Price Increase in the Upcoming Budget

Breaking News, NGO News

The Economic Reporters’ Forum has called for effective taxation and price increases on Tobacco products in the upcoming national budget for fiscal year 2026–27 to protect public health. The demand was made at a journalists’ workshop titled “The Need for Effective Tax and Price Increase on Tobacco Products in the Upcoming FY2026–27 Budget for Protecting Public Health,” jointly organised by Development Organisation of the Rural Poor-DORP and the Economic Reporters’ Forum at the ERF office on Monday, 27 April 2026. The chief guest at the workshop was Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, State Minister for Planning. He said the easy availability of tobacco products in Bangladesh is alarmingly increasing smoking tendencies among young people and low-income communities, posing a serious threat to public h...

Apr272026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Youth call for mandatory, easy-to-understand nutrition labeling on packaged foods

Breaking News, NGO News

A day-long youth orientation titled “Empowering Future Youth: Healthy Eating, Understanding Packaged Food Labeling, and Supporting FOPL Policy” was organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission with the aim of engaging young people in Bangladesh to promote healthy dietary practices and raise awareness about nutritional information on packaged foods. The orientation was held on Monday (27 April 2026) at the Dhaka Ahsania Mission head office in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The event was organized by the Health Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission with technical support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, and brought together youth participants. Professor Dr. Mohammad Shoaib, Member (Food Industry and Production) of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, attended as Chief Guest. Barrister Md. Mahfuzur Rahma...

Apr252026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Youth Demand Effective Tobacco Tax and Price Hike in the Upcoming Budget

Breaking News, NGO News

More than one hundred students from various universities, including members of DORP Tobacco-Free Youth, have called for effective taxation and higher prices on tobacco products in the upcoming national budget for fiscal year 2026–27. The demand was raised during a human chain organized in front of the National Board of Revenue building in Agargaon on Saturday morning, April 25, 2026. The young participants said that reducing the easy availability of cigarettes and other tobacco products is essential to protect the youth from the harmful effects of tobacco. During the program, the students expressed concern that the widespread availability of tobacco products in Bangladesh has led to an alarming increase in tobacco use and smoking among young people and low-income groups, posing a seriou...

Apr242026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Non-Communicable Diseases Account for 71% of Deaths: Urgent Action Needed -Speakers at Senior Journalists’ Workshop

Breaking News, NGO News

The risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, diabetes, and cancer is significantly increasing due to the excessive consumption of unhealthy ultra-processed foods, high in sugar, salt (sodium), saturated fats, and trans fats. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 71% of all deaths in Bangladesh are caused by non-communicable diseases. The introduction of Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL) on packaged foods has been identified as an effective strategy to curb diet-related NCDs. In addition, ensuring uninterrupted supply of medicines for all is a crucial step in addressing hypertension-related NCDs. These observations were shared by speakers today (April 23) at a workshop for senior journalists on "Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases in Banglad...

Apr232026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

750 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 750 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 five phases during April 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 wer...

Apr212026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

PROGGA, ATMA Propose Three Measures to Cut Tobacco Use and Raise Revenue- Pre-Budget Press Conference Held

Breaking News, NGO News

The research and advocacy organizations PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) have urged reducing the number of cigarette price tiers, introducing a specific tax system, and increasing the prices of all tobacco products in the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year budget. If these proposals are implemented, tobacco use and premature deaths will decline, while government revenue will increase significantly. The two organizations presented these recommendations today (Monday, 20 April 2026) at a pre-budget press conference held at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Hall of the National Press Club. The proposals for the upcoming national budget presented during the event are as follows: The low and medium tiers should be merged into one, with the retail price for 10...

Apr192026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Youth Demand Higher Tobacco Taxes and Price Hike in Upcoming Budget

Breaking News, NGO News

Due to the easy availability of tobacco products in Bangladesh, the prevalence of tobacco use and smoking among youth and low-income populations is increasing at an alarming rate. To reduce the accessibility of cigarettes and protect young people from the harms of tobacco, over a hundred students from various universities, along with members of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing, organized a rally and gathering to demand effective taxation and price increases on tobacco products in the national budget for the fiscal year 2026–27. At the gathering held this morning (April 16, 2026) in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh, organized by the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing, youth participants stated that nearly 200,000 people die prematurely ea...

Mar32026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Anti-Tobacco Groups Urge Immediate Passage of Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 to Protect Public Health

Breaking News, NGO News

Anti-tobacco organizations have urged that the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 be enacted into law during the first session of the 13th National Parliament to safeguard public health from the harmful effects of tobacco. Speakers made the demand at a press conference titled “Call for Enactment of the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 in the First Session of Parliament to Protect Public Health”, held today (Tuesday, 3 March 2026) at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club. They noted that if the ordinance is not passed within 30 days of being placed before Parliament, it will lose its validity. The keynote paper was presented by Dr. Aruna Sarkar, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Program at the National Heart Founda...