NGO News

Mar132025 by No Comments

Cigarette Tax Structure Needs Overhaul

The existing four price tiers in cigarettes (low, medium, high and premium) has rendered tobacco price and tax measures less effective. Particularly, the very narrow price difference between low and medium tier cigarettes allows consumers to choose brands belonging to any of these two tiers. To discourage the poor and the youth from lighting up and to hike the government's revenue inflow, this glaring loophole can be plugged in the upcoming FY 2025-26 national budget by merging low and medium price tiers into one and reducing the number of price tiers to three. Speakers said these at a journalists' workshop titled "Tobacco Tax and Price Measures: Budget FY 2025-26" that took place at BIP Conference Room of the Capital on 12 and13 March 2025. The two workshops, organized jointly by PROGGA ...

Mar112025 by No Comments

Strong tobacco control law will reduce exposure to secondhand smoke PROGGA-ATMA Meets Commerce Adviser

Breaking News, NGO News

A delegation from research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) held a meeting with the Hon. Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin today (10 March 2025, Monday) at his office in the Bangladesh Secretariat. During the meeting, PROGGA-ATMA delegation team informed the Commerce Adviser regarding the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's (MoHFW) initiative to eliminate designated smoking areas (DSAs) through law amendment to safeguard non-smokers from the health hazards of passive smoking. A 100% smoke-free environment cannot be achieved if DSAs continue to exist. Especially, as a person enters or exits smoking zones at hotels and restaurants, cigarette smoke leaks and makes all patrons, including women and children, inhale secondhand ...

Mar112025 by No Comments

International NGOs in Bangladesh Urge Immediate Actions on Rape and Sexual Harassment Incidents, Calling for Justice & Human Rights

Breaking News, NGO News

International NGOs ActionAid Bangladesh, Oxfam in Bangladesh, Plan International Bangladesh, and Save the Children in Bangladesh express serious concern over the incidents of rape, sexual harassment, and violence against women, girls, and children. We urge immediate action to ensure justice, protection, and the safeguarding of human rights for survivors and their families.We welcome the government’s recent action on a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards violence against women and children. We highly appreciate the government’s commitment to completing investigations within 15 days and ensuring that trials conclude within 90 days of the original incident. We demand the immediate fulfillment of this commitment and the implementation of relevant policies.These prompt actions were taken in...

Mar62025 by No Comments

295 Public Transport Drivers Trained by DAM and BRTA

Breaking News, NGO News

With the aim of proper implementation of the 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 the capital on March 6, 2025.Adut Rahman Imon, Program Officer of the Tobacco Control Project of the Health Sector of DAM, presented a documentary on implementing 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 pu...

Feb272025 by No Comments

It’s High TimeWe Advanced Women’s Rights and Progress: Shireen Haque

Breaking News, NGO News

Thesereform opportunities are the outcome of the anti-discrimination movement, which has created an obligation to act. It is essential to identify and address disparities and work towards eliminating discrimination against women in all sectors. Speaking at an event organised by ActionAid Bangladesh in a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Thursday (27 February) to mark International Women's Day 2025, Shireen Parveen Haque, Head of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission, highlighted these issues.She stated, "Our primary focus must be the elimination of discrimination against women in all areas. We must work to reduce gender inequality and identify the barriers to women's development and progress. Women's rights must be prioritised in all reform commissions. We see this as a challenge and also an...

Feb272025 by No Comments

Workshop on Women’s Equal Rights in Inheritance and Family Property

Breaking News, NGO News

In a workshop held today at the BNPS Central Office conference room, the Bangladesh Women’s Progressive Association (BNPS) shed light on the pressing issue of women's inheritance rights and family property in Bangladesh. The event, led by BNPS Director Shahnaz Sumi, brought together influential speakers and activists who highlighted the gender-based discrimination women face regarding inheritance rights, often masked under the guise of religious and social customs. According to Article 28 (1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, the state is committed to ensuring equal rights for all citizens. However, despite this constitutional mandate, women continue to be deprived of equal rights in inheritance and family property. This discrimination is perpetuated by a complex legal framework, predomi...

Feb272025 by No Comments

National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh Organizes Mini Marathon

Breaking News, NGO News

Tobacco use causes 161,253 premature deaths annually in Bangladesh, while the cost of treating tobacco-related diseases exceeds BDT 420 billion each year. Strengthening the tobacco control law through necessary amendments would help reduce preventable deaths and associated medical expenses.Speakers emphasized this at the inaugural ceremony of a mini marathon titled "Call for Stronger Tobacco Control Laws" on Thursday (February 27, 2025) at 7:00 AM in front of Zia Udyan. The National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh organized the marathon, which started from the road in front of Zia Udyan, circled the road near Ganabhaban, and ended back at Zia Udyan. More than 200 participants took part in the event.The marathon was inaugurated by Md. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi from the Ministry of Youth a...

Feb232025 by No Comments

Amendment and Strict Implementation of Tobacco Control Law is Essential

Breaking News, NGO News

"Tobacco acts as a significant obstacle to public health protection and the achievement of SDG targets. Therefore, amending the tobacco control law and its strict implementation are crucial to achieving SDGs by 2030," said Prof. Syed Md. Akram Hussain, member of the Health Sector Reform Commission. He made this statement as the keynote speaker at the press conference on 'Tobacco Control Law in the Current Context' organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Sunday morning (February 23, 2025). He further emphasized that political will, strict enforcement of the law, and reforms in shareholding are essential for the success of tobacco control. Additionally, government officials must sever their ties with the tobacco industry and strengthen the Conflict of Inter...

Feb222025 by No Comments

Australia Stands Firm on Climate Justice and Women’s Rights, Supports Bangladesh

Breaking News, NGO News

The Australian government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s overall development, including advancing climate justice, addressing crises, and ensuring women's rights. Australia’s Ambassador for Climate Change Kristin Tilley assured continued cooperation during a bilateral meeting held on Thursday (20 February) at ActionAid Bangladesh's central office in Gulshan. Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Susan Ryle, and ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director, Farah Kabir, were also present.Kristin Tilley, Australia's Climate Change Envoy, stressed the importance of collective efforts by both government and non-government organisations in ensuring climate justice."Climate justice can only be achieved when we prioritise the voices of those directly affected by c...

Feb212025 by No Comments

Demand for guidelines to stop smoking and drug use on OTT

Breaking News, NGO News

A study conducted by MANAS found that 46 out of 60 dramas and movies contained scenes of smoking and drug use. Currently, more scenes of smoking and drug use are being shown in dramas and movies than drinking water. Smoking and drug use scenes in dramas, movies, and web series by popular stars are encouraging children, teenagers, and young people to smoke and use drugs. Lawyers and public health development workers have demanded action against individuals and organizations violating the Smoking and Tobacco Control Act and the National Broadcasting Policy and the formulation of a separate guideline for OTT platforms. Experts made these comments at the online discussion meeting on “Implementation of Tobacco Control Act in Dramas and Movies and the Need for Guidelines for OTT” on February 20...