NGO News

Aug192025 by No Comments

Gonoshasthya Nagar Doctors Demand Swift TC Law Amendment, Urge Cancellation of TI Meetings

The Gonoshasthaya Kendra has demanded the swift passage of the proposed amendments to the existing Tobacco Control Act and called on the government to cancel its meetings with tobacco companies, citing a violation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). The demand was made at a seminar organized by the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh on Tuesday (19 August) titled “The Importance of Amending Tobacco Control Law to Protect Non-Smokers: The Role of Physicians.” Speakers at the seminar emphasized that seeking the opinion of tobacco companies during the amendment process is unacceptable. They said it constitutes a direct violation of WHO FCTC Article 5.3 and poses a serious threat to public health. They urged the government to withdraw this decisi...

Aug182025 by No Comments

Professional Organizations Urge Not to Hold Meetings with Tobacco Companies

Breaking News, NGO News

Leaders from various professional organizations have urged the government to withdraw from the decision to solicit opinions from tobacco companies regarding the amendment of the tobacco control law. They called for swift passage of the proposed amendments to strengthen the law in order to prevent premature deaths caused by tobacco use.This demand was made on Monday (August 18, 2025) at a consultation meeting titled "Implementation of WHO FCTC and the Way Forward in Strengthening Tobacco Control Law," organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.Presenting the keynote paper, Shariful Islam, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, stated that "In Bangladesh, approximately 37.8 million adults use tobacco. More than 161,000 peo...

Aug182025 by No Comments

Youth Representatives Submit Petition to Advisers for Swift Passage of Tobacco Control Law Amendment

Breaking News, NGO News

A petition signed by nearly 10,000 anti-tobacco youth representatives has been submitted to the office of the Honorable Finance Adviser, demanding the immediate passage of the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Law and the cancellation of the government’s decision to meet with tobacco company representatives in violation of the international treaty WHO FCTC Article 5.3. Copies of the petition were also submitted to the Honorable Chief Adviser, Health Adviser, Information and Broadcasting Adviser, and Youth and Sports Adviser. The petition was formally handed over on Sunday (August 17) by Nari Maitree, Development Organization of Rural Poor- DORP, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, and National Heart Foundation.The petition was endorsed by around 10,000 students from various public and priv...

Aug132025 by No Comments

Effective measures required to curb hypertension risk among youth

Breaking News, NGO News

Hypertension and other non-communicable diseases are increasing at an alarming rate among the country's youth due to various causes including unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyles, and air pollution. Immediate and effective action is crucial to safeguard the young generation from these escalating health risks. Speakers highlighted such recommendations at a webinar titled "Hypertension Risk and the Youth of Bangladesh", organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) on Tuesday August 12, in observance of National and International Youth Day 2025. The webinar was supported by Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) and co-organized by youth organizations- Bangladesh Medical Students' Society (BMSS), Platform Doctors Foundation, ...

Aug122025 by No Comments

Discussion Meeting Held to Demand Quick Passage of Proposed Amendments to the Tobacco Control Act

Breaking News, NGO News

On 11 August 2025, a discussion meeting was held at the Retirement Building, jointly organized by the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor-DORP and the Bangladesh Retired Government Employees Welfare Association. The meeting called for the quick passage of the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act to protect public health.The keynote paper was presented by Zeba Afroza, Program Coordinator of DORP. She explained six major proposals from the draft amendment prepared by the Health Services Division, which are in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). These proposals include removing smoking areas in all public places and public transport, banning the display of tobacco products at points of sale, banning tobacco companies’ corporate social respo...

Jul312025 by No Comments

Tobacco Industry and Public Health Can Never Align — Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain

Breaking News, NGO News

Ensuring policy-making free from tobacco industry influence is the first step to protecting public health, said former Health Minister and BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.He stated, “According to Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the commercial interests of the tobacco industry and the public interest can never be the same. The government must remain free from tobacco industry influence and commit to formulating public health-friendly policies.” He made these remarks on Thursday (31 July 2025) while speaking as the Chief Guest at a seminar titled “Implementation of the WHO FCTC and the Government's Obligations in Complying with Article 5.3”, organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at a hotel in the capital. Speaking as a Speci...

Jul302025 by No Comments

Law Violations in Films: A Threat to the Young Generation

Breaking News, NGO News

As people increasingly turn to films to fulfill their entertainment needs, the excessive presence of aggression and scenes violating existing laws are having a negative impact on viewers. In particular, the depiction of smoking, drug use, and obscene language in films is influencing adolescents and young adults toward harmful addictions and negative behavior, posing a serious risk to society. In this regard, actors, directors, producers, and relevant government and regulatory bodies must act responsibly. This appeal was made in a press release issued by Madok Draba O Nesha Nirodh Sangstha (MANAS) on Wednesday, 30 July. The press release stated that MANAS has been consistently working with stakeholders to monitor the implementation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Law, ...

Jul232025 by No Comments

Human Chain by Biri Workers in Tangail Demanding Strengthening of Tobacco Control Law for Public Health Protection

Breaking News, NGO News

On 23 July 2025, a human chain was held in front of the Tangail District Press Club demanding the strengthening of the tobacco control law to ensure public health and advance the goal of a tobacco-free Bangladesh. The event was organized by the Development Organization of the Rural Poor-DORP and brought together biri workers, labor leaders, youth representatives, journalists, and civil society members from Tangail.Speakers at the event included Nazmul Haque, President of the Tangail Regional Biri Workers’ Union; Shah Alam Miah, General Secretary; union member Joymon Bibi; journalist Borhan Talukder; among others. In their speeches, they described the harsh realities of biri production, highlighting it as a low-wage and hazardous occupation. Although the demand for biris has declined na...

Jul212025 by No Comments

Decision to Hold Meeting with Tobacco Companies is a Violation of International Treaty

Breaking News, NGO News

The advisory committee formed to revise the draft of the Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024 has decided to hold meetings with tobacco companies. This move is a clear violation of Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s international treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Dhaka Ahsania Mission has expressed concern over this decision by the advisory committee.In a press release issued on Monday (21 July 2025), Dhaka Ahsania Mission stated that, as per the FCTC, each signatory country has the responsibility to protect its policymaking processes from the vested interests of the tobacco industry. The treaty clearly acknowledges a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the tobacco industry and public healt...

Jul152025 by No Comments

295 Public Transport Drivers Trained by DAM and BRTA

Breaking News, NGO News

With the aim of proper implementation of Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products (Control) Act (Amendment-2013) initiative of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority-BRTA and Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Health Sector training has been provided to 295 public transport drivers at the Zoar Sahara BRTC Bus Depot in capital on July 14, 2025.Adut Rahman Imon, Program Officer of the Tobacco Control Project of the Health Sector of DAM, presented a documentary on the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act and health damage among professional drivers.In the training, public transport drivers (Bus, CNG, Laguna, Tempu) are informed about the bad effects of direct and indirect smoking, health hazards, and tobacco control laws. Passengers, especially women and children, are indirectly exposed to smoke in ...