NGO News Archives - Page 10 of 18

May302025 by No Comments

MANAS Demands Punishment for Tobacco Companies for Violating Laws and Enticing Youth into Addiction

Speakers at a press conference today called for strict action against tobacco companies for their deceptive tactics, illegal promotion, and alluring of young people into harmful tobacco addiction. They emphasized the need to counter the ever-evolving stratagems of tobacco companies to protect children, adolescents, and young adults from tobacco. Ensuring this, they argued, would lead to a healthier generation in the long run, reduce tobacco-related diseases in the healthcare sector, and mitigate the burden of premature deaths and overall losses. The press conference, organized by Madak Darbo O Nesha Nirodh Sangstha (MANAS) was held at the National Press Club on Friday, May 30, at 11:00 AM. The keynote paper was presented and presided over by the founder president of MANAS, freedom fight...

May302025 by No Comments

All BRTA Offices to be Declared Smoke-Free

Breaking News, NGO News

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” wa...

May292025 by No Comments

Discussion Held with DU Journalists to Strengthen Tobacco Control Law

Breaking News, NGO News

A discussion meeting titled “Expectations and Responsibilities of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association in Strengthening the Tobacco Control Law” was held on Thursday, May 29, at Karwan Bazar in the capital. The event was organized by Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) to advance the goal of a tobacco-free Bangladesh. The session began with a welcome speech by Mohammad Azhar Ali Talukder, retired secretary and advisor to DORP. Md. Abdus Salam Mia joined as a special discussant, while the closing remarks were delivered by AHM Noman, founder and CEO of DORP. Members of the executive committee of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association were also present. In the discussion, Dr. Silvana Ishrat, Advocacy Coordinator of DORP’s Tobacco Control Project, presented six ...

May292025 by No Comments

World No Tobacco Day 2025: Strong Tobacco Control Measures a Must to Protect the Youth

Breaking News, NGO News

The young generation has always been the prime target of the tobacco industry. As one generation of tobacco users passes away or quits due to illness and health hazards involved, the tobacco industry must assemble a new batch of 'loyal' customers from the youth to keep its business 'afloat' and the profit coming. Once entrapped by the allure of the advertisement and hooked on deadly addiction, the youth become sure business for the companies until these 'loyal' customers make their way to the grave, only to be replaced by a new batch of consumers. In Bangladesh alone, tobacco claims 161,000 lives each year. Despite being the root cause of such numbers of casualties and illness, tobacco industry often evades accountability and runs business unscathed. Against this harrowing backdrop, expert...

May282025 by No Comments

DNCC Assures Effective Measures for Implementing Budget Allocated for Tobacco Control

Breaking News, NGO News

To protect public health and shield the general population from the harms of secondhand smoke, as well as to ensure a 100% smoke-free environment, the budget allocated annually by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) for tobacco control will be properly utilized through structured annual planning, said Brigadier General Imrul Quais Chowdhury, Chief Health Officer of DNCC. He made the remarks while presiding over a discussion meeting titled “Steps Toward a Smoke- and Tobacco-Free Dhaka North City Corporation”, jointly organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and DNCC, held on Wednesday (28 May 2025) at the DNCC conference room. The meeting was chaired by Brigadier General Imrul Quais Chowdhury and attended by DNCC Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr. Imdadul Haque, Health Officers Dr. Mahmuda Polly a...

May252025 by No Comments

To ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, a Road Safety Act is necessary

Breaking News, NGO News

According to the World Health Organization, over 50% of annual road crash fatalities involve pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. In Dhaka, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, traffic overcrowding remains a severe problem, resulting in the daily loss of significant working hours. Walking and cycling can be effective solutions to this issue. To facilitate this, there is a need for pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly safe road infrastructure, along with the formulation and implementation of a Road Safety Act. On Sunday (18 May) at 11:00 AM, Sharmeen Rahman, Road Safety Project Coordinator of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, stated this during her keynote speech at the inaugural session of the Youth Campaign held at the auditorium of the Mission's head office in Dhanmondi, Dhaka...

May252025 by No Comments

Effective Tobacco Taxation Reduces Deaths and Increases Revenue

Breaking News, NGO News

Economists and public health experts have stated that implementing effective taxes and price hikes on tobacco products, free from the interference of tobacco companies, in the upcoming FY 2025–26 budget will reduce tobacco-related deaths and significantly increase government revenue. They shared this insight at a discussion meeting titled “Tobacco Tax Proposal in the Upcoming FY 2025–26 Budget” held on the Saturday of 24 May 2025 at the auditorium of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. The meeting was presided over by Dr. Mohammad Khalilullah, Vice President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, while the welcome speech was delivered by Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Health Sector of the Mission. The key speaker was Professor Dr. Syed Akram Hussain, Member of the Health Sector Reform Commission...

May222025 by No Comments

Young Doctors Urge Tobacco Tax Reform to Curb Smoking and Save Lives

Breaking News, NGO News

One of the main reasons for the widespread availability of tobacco products in Bangladesh is its flawed and complex tax structure. This has led to an alarming rise in smoking among youth and low-income populations. Effective taxation and price hikes on cigarettes are now a pressing need. To address this, young doctors across the country have called for a reduction in the existing four-tier cigarette price structure to three tiers and an increase in prices in the upcoming 2025–26 fiscal budget. These demands were voiced today, Thursday (22 May 2025), during a human chain organized by the Sandhani Central Committee in collaboration with the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh at the premises of the National Press Club. Over a hundred young doctors studying at various medical colleges in...

May222025 by No Comments

BIWTC to Make All Vessels Smoke-Free: Chairman BIWTC

Breaking News, NGO News

To protect public health and safeguard people from the harms of secondhand smoke, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) has announced plans to take necessary steps to make all its vessels, including ferries, completely smoke-free. This announcement was made by BIWTC Chairman Md. Salim Ullah. The announcement came during a discussion meeting titled “Measures to Ensure 100% Smoke-Free Water Transport,” jointly organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and BIWTC on the morning of May 22, 2025, at the BIWTC conference room. The event was presided over by Md. Salim Ullah. Among the speakers present were Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Belayet Hossain, Mashruk Ahmed from the Department of Shipping, BIWTC’s General Manager (Administration) Jesmin Ara Begum, Technic...

May212025 by No Comments

Demand for Increased Tobacco Tax and Price in the Upcoming Budget

Breaking News, NGO News

To protect public health and achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh, Development Organisation of the Rural Poor- DORP, alongside journalists, social leaders, and policymakers, have called for an increase in tobacco product prices and taxes, as well as reforms to the tobacco tax policy, in the upcoming national budget for FY 2025–26. This demand was raised during a national seminar titled “Increasing the Price and Tax on Tobacco Products and Reforming the Tobacco Tax Policy in the National Budget for FY 2025–26”, held on Wednesday (May 21) at the CIRDAP Auditorium. In a national seminar held on May 21 at the CIRDAP auditorium, Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP), along with journalists, prominent social figures, and policymakers, collectively called for an increase in tobacco pro...