Meherpur News, 01 June 2011: To mark World No Tobacco Day, various organizations organized a smoke-free Meherpur city awareness campaign. On Tuesday morning, a rally was held under the initiative of the District Tobacco Control Task Force, AID, Swadesh, Subah, and the Anti-Tobacco Alliance.
The colorful rally, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Hossain Ali Khondaker, started from the District Motor Workers' Union office and marched along the main streets of the city with festive music, ending at the Shaheed Samsuzzoha Park.
Later, a discussion meeting was held at the Mafizur Rahman Open Stage in the park, chaired by Dr. Abdus Shahid, Civil Surgeon and Member Secretary of the District Tobacco Control Task Force Committee.
The chief guest of the meeting was Hossain Ali Khondaker, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue).
Special guests included Riaz Uddin, Panel Mayor of the Municipality, and Moniruzzaman, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture.
Aminul Islam Bakul, Executive Director of AID, delivered the welcome speech.
Speeches highlighting the importance of the day were given by Rafique-ul-Alam, Advisor of the District Tobacco Control Law Implementation Committee, and a paper was presented by Adv. Tanmoy Kundu, Assistant Project Coordinator of AID.
Other speakers included Abdul Kuddus, President of the District Motor Workers' Union, M.A. Hasan Sumon, Director of Ashroy, and Abul Hashem, President of the Rural Medical Practitioners Association.
During the event, three public places — the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, the Civil Surgeon’s Office, and the Municipal Building — were officially declared smoke-free as part of the commitment to make Meherpur a smoke-free city.
To recognize active contributions toward tobacco control, crests were awarded to representatives of Swadesh, Ashroy, and Subah.
The event was conducted by Majedul Haque Manik, Executive Director of Swadesh.
