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A Brief Report on the Consultative Meeting to Identify the Future Tobacco Control Research Needs in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP), in collaboration with the National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) and the Bangladesh Tobacco Control Research Network (BTCRN), hosted a Consultative Meeting to Identify Future Tobacco Control Research Needs in Bangladesh on September 11, 2024, at BMA Bhaban in Dhaka. The meeting aimed to identify key research priorities for the forthcoming Call for Proposals under the 2025 Tobacco Control Policy Research Grant Program in Bangladesh.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been actively involved in drafting and advancing a new legislative amendment. This amendment addresses critical concerns such as prohibiting E-cigarettes, discontinuing single cigarette stick sales, and eliminating designated smoking areas in public places. The initiative sought to address emerging challenges in tobacco control by pinpointing critical areas for research that will support evidence-based policymaking.

The meeting was gathered by the participation of 56 attendees, comprising representatives from various sectors, including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Tobacco Control Cell, partners, and grantees affiliated with the Bloomberg Initiative, public and private universities, as well as non-governmental organizations.

Ms. Sheikh Momena Moni, Additional Secretary (WH Wing) of the Health Services Division at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, graced the meeting as the Chief Guest. Joining her were distinguished special guests, including Mr. Md. Akhteruzzaman, Coordinator (Joint Secretary) of NTCC; Dr. Rajesh Narwal, Deputy Head of WHO Country Office for Bangladesh; Mr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Lead Policy Advisor, CTFK; Prof. Dr. M Mostafa Zaman, Executive Editor, BSMMU Journal; Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Huq, National Professional Officer at WHO Bangladesh; Dr. Sejal Saraf, Consultant- South Asia, Institute for Global Tobacco Control and Prof. Dr. Nawzia Yasmin, President, Bangladesh Tobacco Control Research Network. Dr. Md. Farhadur Reza, Program Officer at the National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC), adeptly moderated the proceedings.

Mr. Mohammad Shahjahan, Director and CEO of the Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP), opened the meeting with an introduction, outlining its key objectives. Following his remarks, Mr. Mohammad Shamimul Islam, Team Leader of the JHSPH-BCCP Tobacco Control Program, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the Tobacco Control Policy Research Grant Program. In his presentation, Mr. Islam highlighted the core objectives of the grant program, detailing the phases of its implementation, expected outcomes, and key considerations for ensuring its long-term sustainability. His insights provided a strategic overview of how the program aims to contribute to advancing tobacco control efforts in Bangladesh.

Ms. Sheikh Momena Moni, the esteemed Chief Guest, commended the collaborative endeavors of JHSPH and BCCP in launching the evidence-based Tobacco Control Research Grant Program. She underscored the critical role of research-based evidence in guiding effective tobacco control initiatives and emphasized that such evidence is essential for developing and implementing successful strategies to reduce tobacco use.

The Tobacco Control Policy Research Grant Program evaluates proposals aligned with the WHO MPOWER package. To provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of its components, Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Huq, National Professional Officer at WHO Bangladesh, delivered a presentation on "WHO MPOWER" to inform the participants with its various components. He elucidated these components and supplemented his explanation with descriptive examples for each one, as detailed below:

M- Monitoring tobacco use
P- Protecting people from tobacco smoke
O- Offer help to quit tobacco
W- Warning about the danger of tobacco
E- Enforcing the tobacco advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship bans
R- Raise taxes on tobacco

A breakout session was organized to identify the forthcoming research requirements in the field of tobacco control in Bangladesh. Participants were divided into four groups, each assigned to address specific components of the MPOWER framework. Group A focused on "M"; Group B on "P" and "W"; Group C provided insights on "E" and Group D on "R" and "O". Following the group work, each team presented their findings during the plenary session. The Consultative Meeting went very well. The outcomes from the meeting will be synthesized and prepared in the detailed “Call for Proposal” for 2025. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by Prof. Dr. Nawzia Yasmin, President, Bangladesh Tobacco Control Research Network.