NGO News

Aug282025 by No Comments

Govt. steps up efforts to tackle hypertension and other NCDs- Speakers at journalists’ workshop

The prevalence of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are surging rapidly, posing a severe threat to public health. To tackle this growing challenge, a substantial portion of the health sector's budget should be directed toward combating hypertension. Such demands were made at a workshop for journalists titled "Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress, Challenges and Way Forward", held on 26 August 2025 at the BIP Conference Room in Dhaka. The workshop was organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). Twenty-six journalists working in print, television and online media participated in the workshop. It was informed at the workshop that 35 ministries and divisions of the gove...

Aug272025 by No Comments

Demand for Immediate Passage of the Draft Amendment to the Tobacco Control Law

Breaking News, NGO News

Speakers have called for the immediate passage of the draft amendment to the Tobacco Control Law to protect public health and reduce tobacco-related deaths, along with the implementation of Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).The demand was made on Wednesday (27 August) at a media briefing organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission titled “Implementation of WHO FCTC and Urgent Passage of the Draft Amendment to the Tobacco Control Law.”The discussion was attended by National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz, Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) General Secretary M. M. Badsha, Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) General Secretary Abul Kashem, Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum President Rashed Rabbi, Dhaka Ahsania Mission Ex...

Aug262025 by No Comments

Trauma Can Have Long-Term Effects on Both Physical and Mental Health: Experts Warn

Breaking News, NGO News

Trauma can leave lasting impacts not only on mental well-being but also on physical health, said renowned psychiatrist Professor Dr. Md. Zahir Uddin at a family awareness session held at Dhaka Ahsania Mission’s Health Sector Office in Shaymoli today.Speaking to parents and guardians of patients currently undergoing treatment at the Ahsania Mission Female ’s Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, Professor Zahir Uddin explained that trauma is a psychological wound triggered by frightening, distressing, or painful events. Such experiences may lead to disorders such as anxiety, depression, and emotional instability.“Trauma affects people differently,” he said. “While some individuals can recover over time, others may suffer from long-term psychological consequences. Child...

Aug262025 by No Comments

Call Not to Violate WHO FCTC Article 5.3 in Amending the Tobacco Control Law

Breaking News, NGO News

Development Organisation of the Rural Poor- DORP has urged the government to abandon its decision to take the opinion of tobacco companies in the amendment of the Tobacco Control Law. Instead, they called for the immediate passage of the proposed amendment and for ensuring that Bangladesh does not violate Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).This call was made at a press conference titled “Strengthening the Tobacco Control Law and Expectations from the Government for Implementing WHO FCTC and Complying with Article 5.3”, held on Tuesday (26 August 2025) at the National Press Club in Dhaka.Presenting the keynote paper, Dr. Abu Muhammad Zakir Hossain, President of the Community Clinic Health Support Trust, said that every year tobacco-related diseases...

Aug232025 by No Comments

Revoke Meeting with Tobacco Company and Ensure Rapid Passage of Amendment to the tobacco control law: Anti-Tobacco Youth March Demands

Breaking News, NGO News

The government must ensure quick passage of the existing draft amendment proposal of the tobacco control law prepared by Health Ministry to safeguard the youth from deadly tobacco and revoke its decision to hold meeting with tobacco companies on the issue of tobacco control law amendment proposal. Such demands have been raised today (23 August 2025, Saturday) from an anti-tobacco Youth March, that took place in the capital. The Youth March commenced at the Central Shaheed Minar and ended at Shahbagh. Renowned Economist and Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government, Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, inaugurated the event and delivered the welcome address. He said, “The harmful effects of tobacco are scientifically undeniable. I express my solidarity with the young people united here today in the...

Aug192025 by No Comments

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

Breaking News, NGO News

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...