National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute (nhfh&ri) has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka, Mr. Sharf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, for issuing an official directive to declare the premises of all Deputy Commissioners’ offices across the Dhaka Division as 100% smoke-free. The order also mandates the removal of any designated smoking areas within these premises, ensuring enhanced protection for non-smokers.
On Sunday morning (April 13, 2025), a delegation from nhfh&ri met with the Divisional Commissioner to express their appreciation for this public health-focused initiative.
During the meeting, Prof. Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the nhfh&ri, cited findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017, noting that about 4 in 10 adults are exposed to secondhand smoke in Bangladesh. He further highlighted that approximately 38.4 million adults are subjected to second-hand smoking daily in workplaces, restaurants, and public transportation. In this context, the decision to make the DC office premises entirely smoke-free, and to remove any smoking zones, marks a significant step forward in tobacco control and public health protection.
Also present at the meeting were Dr. Aruna Sarkar, Coordinator of the nhfh&ri’s Tobacco Control Program, and Abu Jafor, Senior Communication Officer.
Earlier, on Tuesday (April 8, 2025), an official order was issued declaring all Deputy Commissioners’ office premises in Dhaka Division as smoke-free zones. The directive included instructions to prominently display “Smoke-Free Zone” signage in appropriate open areas and to remove any designated smoking spots inside the office buildings. The order was signed by Senior Assistant Commissioner Nashita-tul Islam on behalf of the Divisional Commissioner’s Office.
It is worth noting that this directive followed a policy dialogue organized by the National Heart Foundation on March 20, 2025, at the conference room of the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office. The discussion, titled “Ensuring a 100% Smoke-Free Office Environment to Protect Non-Smokers,” laid the groundwork for this commendable administrative action.