Seminar on World No Tobacco Day 2023

On 11th June 2023, a seminar was held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on the World No Tobacco Day 2023. The theme for this year's celebration was 'Grow food, not tobacco.' The event was organized by the National Tobacco Control Cell, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Mr. Zahid Malek, MP, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare graced the occasion as the Chief Guest while Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain Howladar, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare chaired the program.

Prof. Dr. Md. Habibe Millat, Member of Parliament, Dr. Md. Humayun Kabir, Secretary, Ministry of Railways, Dr. Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative to Bangladesh attended the program as Special Guests.

Md. Saidur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division, delivered the opening speech while Mr. Hossain Ali Khandaker, Coordinator of the National Tobacco Control Cell, presented a keynote paper at the program.

Health Minister in his speech reiterated the importance of making another amendment to the existing Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act 2013. He categorically mentioned that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is very serious regarding the removal of Designated Smoking Area from public places and banning of e-cigarettes, increase the size of the Graphic Health Warning, stop selling of tobacco products around 100 meters from educational institutions and stop selling of single sticks.

More than 500 participants representing the relevant Government officials, BI partners and grantees, students and faculties of the different universities and nursing institutes attended the program.

Along with other tobacco control organizations, BCCP-BTCRN arranged a stall in front of the auditorium to showcase IGTC-BCCP tobacco control activities. A huge number of participants and guests including the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Prof. Dr. Md. Habibe Millat, Member of Parliament and a delegate from the World Health Organization visited our stall. The visitors liked our activities, especially the Research Grant Program. An animated video for the removal of Designated Smoking Area (DSA) was demonstrated in the stall. The visitors liked the video because of its animation. BTCRN membership forms were also distributed to increase its membership base.