NGO News

Jul312025 by No Comments

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

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 ...

Jul142025 by No Comments

Quick TC Law Amendment Necessary to Prevent Premature Deaths- 19 Anti-Tobacco Orgs Urge Government

Breaking News, NGO News

Tobacco claims nearly 161,000 lives each year in Bangladesh. Rapid amendment of the existing Tobacco Control (TC) law is a must to put an end to this massive number of premature deaths. 19 (nineteen) anti-tobacco organizations have made such demand to the government on 12 July 2025, Saturday during a press conference that took place at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters' Unity. Speakers said that tobacco is a major contributing factor in cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NDCs). Currently, 71 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh are caused by NCDs. Against this backdrop, without strengthening the country's tobacco control laws, it is impossible for Bangladesh to achieve SDG Target 3.4 which is to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third ...

Jul112025 by No Comments

Uninterrupted funding crucial to control hypertension

Breaking News, NGO News

With the growing prevalence of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh, increased allocation in the health sector has become essential. The budget for FY 2025-26 reflects a slight increase from the previous FY 2024-25, with 5.3% of the total budget designated for health. Experts emphasize that a substantial portion of this funding should be directed toward combating serious non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension. Such recommendations were put forward at a workshop for senior journalists titled "Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward", held at the capital's FARS Hotel and Resorts on 9th July 2025. The workshop was organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocac...

Jul112025 by No Comments

Youth Conference Demands Strengthening of Tobacco Control Law

Breaking News, NGO News

A youth conference titled “Strengthening Tobacco Control Law is Urgently Needed to Protect Youth Health” was held on Thursday, 10 July 2025, at the Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of the University of Dhaka. The event was organized by the Development Organization of the Rural Poor-DORP in collaboration with Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Nari Maitree, and the National Heart Foundation. Over 200 students from various educational institutions—including the University of Dhaka, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University, BUP, Dhaka College, Government Bangla College, Khilgaon Model College, and members of the Dhaka University Journalists' Association—participated in the event. Chief Guest Dr. Abu Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Chairman of the Community Clinic Health Assistance Trust, stated that 6...

Jul102025 by No Comments

Dr. Arup Ratan Choudhury Attends the World’s Largest Tobacco Control Conference

Breaking News, NGO News

The world's largest tobacco control conference was held from 22–25 June 2025 in Dublin, Ireland, organized by The Union and the World Health Organization (WHO) with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Professor Dr. ArupRatan Choudhury, a renowned Bangladeshi public health expert and anti-tobacco activist, returned home after attending this prestigious global event. Dr. Choudhury joined a 50-member delegation from Bangladesh and presented the country’s progress in tobacco control, including the achievements of his organization Madok Draba O Nesha Nirodh Sangstha (MANAS). He showcased MANAS’s impactful research and success stories through an e-poster presentation.The global conference brought together public health experts, policymakers, donors, and civil society representatives to sh...

Jul92025 by No Comments

Rally and Coffin Procession to Prevent 442 Deaths per Day

Breaking News, NGO News

To reduce tobacco-related deaths and usage, and to build a healthy, tobacco-free nation, 17 anti-tobacco organizations and students of the University of Dhaka organized a rally and a symbolic coffin procession demanding a timely and stronger tobacco control law. The event was held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in the TSC area of the University of Dhaka. Following the rally, the coffin procession made its way through the university premises. Speakers at the rally stated that 35.3% of the population aged 15 and above in Bangladesh use tobacco. Every day, 442 people die from tobacco-related diseases, while approximately 400,000 people become disabled annually. Additionally, 42.7% of the population are victims of secondhand smoke. According to research published by the American Cancer Society,...