Tag: Tobacco

Sep12026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

“Reducing the Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases Is Not Possible Without Tobacco Control” — Health Minister

Approximately 71 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and tobacco use is one of the major risk factors for these diseases. Therefore, tobacco control must be accorded the highest priority in addressing the burden of NCDs in Bangladesh, said Minister for Health and Family Welfare Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain.He said, “Prevention of non-communicable diseases is not possible without effective tobacco control. Effective measures must be taken to reduce tobacco use in order to protect public health and safeguard the younger generation from nicotine addiction.”The Minister made these remarks as the Chief Guest at a seminar titled “Actions to Control Non-Communicable Diseases and Protect Future Generations from the Harmful Effects of Tobacco a...

Aug202026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Can Ending the Unregulated Sale of Tobacco on Watercraft Ensure Tobacco-Free Water Transport?

Breaking News, Opinion

Moazzem Hossain TipuBangladesh’s waterways are an important part of the country’s economy, communication network, and everyday life. Every day, thousands of people travel by launches, ferries, steamers, and other watercraft. Children, women, older people, patients, workers, and people from different walks of life travel in the same environment. Therefore, tobacco use on watercraft is not merely a personal behavior; it directly affects the health, safety, and comfort of other passengers. To ensure tobacco-free waterways, awareness messages alone are not enough. Equal importance must be given to stopping the unrestricted sale of tobacco, particularly around watercraft and terminals, and to effectively enforcing the existing law. Where tobacco is easily available and there is no visible p...

Aug32026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Department of Cooperatives Committed to Ensuring a Tobacco-Free Environment

Breaking News, NGO News

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 Cooperati...

Jul262021 by Statement DeskNo Comments

Taxation of tobacco products to protect public health is disappointing

Opinion

Rezaur Rahman RizviIn her concluding remarks at the South Asia Speakers Conference on 31 January 2016, Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced to eradicate tobacco use from Bangladesh by 2040. The announcement was so timely and relevant that it was widely praised, including by all anti-tobacco organizations. The matter also sets a precedent in the history of the world. Because no government of any country has announced such a specific time frame for tobacco eradication before.To this end, the government later included tobacco control in the Eighth Five-Year Plan. And so, the first way to ban tobacco is to reduce tobacco use among the public. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that tobacco and tobacco products are no longer readily available to them. Increasing the price...