The Department of Cooperatives is committed to ensuring a tobacco-free environment to protect public health and safeguard non-smokers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. To achieve this goal, the Department will undertake continuous initiatives to sensitize officials and staff on the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 (Amended 2026), ensure tobacco-free environments across all its offices, and strengthen collaboration with relevant stakeholders, said Md. Selim Fakir, Registrar and Director General (Additional Secretary) of the Department of Cooperatives.
He made these remarks as the Chief Guest at an exchange meeting titled “Ensuring Tobacco-Free Environments in All Offices of the Department of Cooperatives,” jointly organized by the Department of Cooperatives and the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor-DORP on Monday (3 August 2026).
The keynote presentation was delivered by Zeba Afroza, Coordinator of DORP’s Tobacco Control Project. She highlighted the current tobacco use situation in Bangladesh, the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, and the key provisions of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2026.
She stated that, according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017, tobacco-related diseases claim the lives of approximately 200,000 people in Bangladesh every year. Tobacco use also imposes an estimated BDT 870 billion in annual economic losses through healthcare expenditures and reduced productivity. Nearly 37.8 million adults in Bangladesh use tobacco products, including approximately 19.2 million smokers, while nearly 40 million people are exposed to secondhand smoke. As the current government considers tobacco control a key public health priority, she expressed hope that the Department of Cooperatives’ initiative would serve as a model for other public and private institutions across the country.
Referring to the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s message on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2026, which stated, “The government is committed to protecting children, adolescents, and future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine,” the meeting Chair, Md. Nabirul Islam, Additional Registrar (Administration, Human Resource Management and Finance), said that the prohibition of smoking and the use of tobacco products in public places and public transport under Section 4 of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 (Amended 2026) is an integral part of implementing this commitment.
During the discussion, speakers emphasized that building tobacco-free, healthy workplaces requires greater sensitization, strengthened institutional capacity of the Department of Cooperatives in tobacco control, and coordinated efforts among all relevant stakeholders.