Dainik Mathabhanga, October 10, 2017, Yesterday, Monday, was National Tobacco-Free Day. On this occasion, a discussion meeting was held in the training room of Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, located in Meherpur Sadar Upazila.

The meeting was presided over by Moin Ul Alam, Executive Director of Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha. The chief guest was Rafiqul Alam, President of CAB Meherpur District Branch and General Secretary of Meherpur Press Club. Special guest was SM Abdul Kuddus, BLP Project Coordinator of the organization.

In his speech, the chief guest urged the government to allocate surcharge funds for health development and tobacco control.

The event was jointly organized by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, Amjhupi, Meherpur, and the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance.

 Dainik Mathabhanga, July 31, 2015, A county-wide awareness campaign was launched on Thursday by the District Tobacco Control Task Force to build a smoke-free Meherpur. The campaign was inaugurated at noon in the courtyard of the District Commissioner’s Office by Additional Deputy Commissioner Hemayet Hossain.

Speakers at the event included Task Force Committee Member Secretary and Civil Surgeon Dr. Azizur Rahman Siddiqui. Also present were Senior Health Education Officer and Task Force Member Kazi Rowshan Ara, President of Meherpur Press Club Rashid Hasan Khan Alo, General Secretary of Mujibnagar Press Club Sheikh Shafi Uddin, and AID Program Officer Touhid-ud-Doula Reza, along with other Task Force members.

With support from AID, the campaign was jointly organized by the District Tobacco Control Task Force, Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, Swadesh, and Ashroy. From morning onward, public announcements were made in different parts of the district’s three upazilas using loudspeakers provided by the Information Office.

Speakers highlighted the harmful effects of tobacco use, emphasized the ban on tobacco advertisements, the mandatory installation of signs labeling public spaces as “Smoke-Free Zones,” and discussed legal provisions to penalize smoking in public places and transportation.

They agreed that by uniting the public under anti-tobacco advocacy, the implementation of tobacco control laws is very much achievable.

 Dainik Mathabhanga, June 1, 2015

Staff Reporter:

With the slogan “Stop the illicit trade of tobacco products”, rallies and discussion meetings were organized in Chuadanga and across Bangladesh to mark World No Tobacco Day. The event was jointly organized by the District Administration, Health Department, District Task Force Committee, AID, PASS, and Protyasha.

On Sunday morning at 9:00 AM, a rally began from the Civil Surgeon’s Office courtyard, which marched through the main roads and ended at the Nursing Institute where a discussion was held. The event was presided over by Chuadanga Civil Surgeon Dr. Azizul Islam, with Chuadanga Deputy Commissioner Mr. Delwar Hossain as the chief guest.

He stated that smoking and tobacco use are silent killers, leading to lung and oral cancers. When the damage becomes visible, it is often too late, and death becomes inevitable. Due to a lack of awareness, people consume cigarettes, raw tobacco leaves, gul, and zarda, resulting in about 57,000 deaths per year in Bangladesh due to cancer. Bangladesh has the highest rate of oral cancer deaths globally, primarily due to these harmful products.

The government has passed tobacco control laws, and public awareness has grown. Smoking in public transportation has decreased. Tobacco cultivation not only depletes soil fertility but also harms the health of those involved. Public advertisements promoting smoking have ceased, and any violations will be dealt with legally.

Other attendees and speakers included:

• Senior Health Education Officer Robzel Hossain
• Assistant Superintendent of Police Golam Benazir Ahmed
• Dr. Mezbabul Haque
• Dr. Paritosh Kumar Ghosh
• Dr. SM Nuruddin Rumi
• Dr. Waliur Rahman Nayan
• Dr. Tariq Hasan Shahin
• Dr. Abul Hossain
• Golam Murshid Dalim
• Chuadanga Press Club President Md. Mahtab Uddin
• Elias Hossain (PASS Executive Director & Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance Member)
• Arifur Rahman (Assistant Coordinator, Protyasha)

Jibannagar Bureau:

A rally and discussion were organized with support from AID Jhenaidah, jointly hosted by Usha and the Upazila Task Force Committee. Chief Guest UNO Nurul Hafiz and Dr. Rowshan Ara Begum (UHFPO) presided over the event. Usha Coordinator Alomgir Hossain discussed this year’s theme.

Gangni:

Tobacco users face various physical, economic, social, and familial issues. Aggressive marketing by tobacco companies is increasing the number of users. A social movement is required alongside legal enforcement.

At a discussion event, Gangni UNO and Task Force President Abul Amin stated that companies use manipulative marketing.

Organizers: Upazila Task Force Committee, Swadesh, Ashroy, ORD, AID, SPIUS, CSEUS, HRDP, and the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance.

Participants included:

• Inspector (Investigation) Moktar Hossain
• Cultural Personality Sirajul Islam
• Project Implementation Officer Dilip Kumar Sen
• Lecturer Hossain Bin Mintu
• Abdul Bari (PSKS)
• Helal Uddin (The Hunger Project)
• Mohibul (SPIUS ED)
• Journalists and citizens from various sectors

Meherpur:

At 9:00 AM on Sunday, a rally started from the District Shilpakala Academy led by Deputy Commissioner Mahmud Hossain. The rally ended in front of the DC office, followed by a discussion in the conference room.

Organizers: District Task Force, AID, Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, and Anti-Tobacco Alliance.

Speakers included:

• DC & Task Force Committee President Mahmud Hossain
• Civil Surgeon Dr. Mohammad Azizur Rahman Siddiqui
• Additional Superintendent of Police Moha. Ahmar Uzzaman
• Anti-Tobacco Alliance Advisor & Journalist Rafiqul Alam
• NGO Association President Mosharraf Hossain
• Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha ED Moin-ul-Alam Bulbul
• AID Program Officer Touhid-ud-Doula Reza
• Various NGO representatives and transport union leaders

Jhenaidah:

A human chain was organized at 11 AM at Post Office intersection by the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), Khulna Division.

Speakers:

• M. Saiful Mabud (Kaler Kantho)
• Nizam Zowardar Babul (ATN Bangla/News)
• M. Raihan Uddin (Ekusher TV, Janakantha)
• Shiplu Zaman (RTV)

Maheshpur:

With support from AID Jhenaidah and execution by human rights organization RDC, a rally and discussion were held in the UNO’s conference room.

Speakers included:

• UNO Nasima Khatun
• RDC Chief Abdul Rahman
• Khairul Anam (Adhikar Mancha)
• Dr. Mahabub Alam
• Zainal Abedin (AID Maheshpur)
• Ishanur Rahman (Maheshpur Subas Committee President)
• Hafiz Al Asad (AC Land)
• Meherunnesa (PIO)
• Mizanur Rahman (Youth Development Officer)
• Press Club VP Adhir Sarkar
• Representatives from Women’s Affairs Dept., AID, RDC, and others

Public Commitment:

Two smokers, Mosaref Hossain and Rohit Das, pledged to quit smoking and handed over their cigarettes and lighters to the UNO in front of all attendees.

 Daily Mathabhanga, March 10, 2014, Meherpur Office: A coordination meeting was held among representatives of like-minded organizations in Meherpur to strengthen public participation in implementing tobacco control laws through anti-tobacco campaigns.

The meeting was held on Saturday morning at the training room of Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, with the support of Action in Development (AID).

The meeting was presided over by Rafiqul Alam, President of the District Tobacco Control Committee.

The welcome speech was delivered by Tauhid-ud-Doula Reza, Program Officer of AID.

Key speakers included:

• Mamunul Islam, Head Teacher, Amjhupi Secondary School
• Moin Ul Alam Bulbul, Executive Director, Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha
• Majedul Haque Manik, Executive Director, Swadesh
• Abu Abid, Executive Director, Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (SPHR)
• M.A. Hasan Sumon, Director, Ashray Samaj Unnayan Sangstha
• Dr. Hashem Ali, President, District Rural Medical Practitioners’ Association
• Mamlat Hossain, President, Hawkers’ Federation

The meeting focused on collaborative efforts to enhance awareness and promote effective enforcement of tobacco control measures in the region.

 A discussion meeting on the implementation and progress of the Tobacco Control Act was held in Meherpur under the initiative of the Health Department and with the cooperation of Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha and YPSA (Young Power in Social Action).

The meeting took place in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Meherpur, and was presided over by Deputy Commissioner Belal Hossain. The main objective of the event was to review the enforcement of the tobacco control law and to identify further steps needed to make Meherpur a tobacco-free district.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Moniruzzaman, Assistant Director of the Health Department Md. Asaduzzaman, Civil Surgeon Dr. Abdur Shaheed Prodhan, Municipal Mayor Motahar Hossain, Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman Ataul Karim, and District Press Club President Abdur Rahman Anam were present as special guests.

Speakers emphasized the importance of strict law enforcement and community awareness to reduce the health risks associated with smoking and tobacco use. They highlighted the need for continuous monitoring and stronger collaboration between the administration, health department, and non-governmental organizations to ensure full implementation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act.

The meeting concluded with the formation of a task plan to strengthen anti-tobacco activities and to continue awareness programs across the district. The participants expressed their joint commitment to achieving a tobacco-free Meherpur, contributing to a healthier Bangladesh.

 

A discussion meeting on the implementation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act was held in Meherpur, organized by the District Administration in collaboration with the Health Department and supported by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha (SUBAH) and YPSA (Young Power in Social Action).

The meeting took place at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Room, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Ataul Gani, with the aim of reviewing ongoing activities related to tobacco control and planning future enforcement initiatives across the district.

Prominent officials, representatives of local government bodies, and members of civil society participated in the event. The chief guest, Civil Surgeon Dr. Abdur Shaheed Prodhan, highlighted the severe health and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and urged all stakeholders to take united action to ensure strict enforcement of the law.

Speakers stressed that tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in Bangladesh. They discussed the importance of strong monitoring mechanisms, effective awareness campaigns, and local-level enforcement to reduce both smoking and smokeless tobacco use.

Among others, Municipal Mayor Mahfuzur Rahman, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ismail Hossain, District Press Club President Abdur Rahman Anam, Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha Executive Director Moinul Alam, and representatives from various social and voluntary organizations attended the meeting.

During the discussion, the participants emphasized that enforcing the Tobacco Control Act is not only a legal obligation but also a moral responsibility to safeguard public health. They also called for increased cooperation between the administration, health department, NGOs, and media to build a tobacco-free Meherpur.

The meeting concluded with a pledge to strengthen anti-tobacco activities through regular monitoring, awareness programs, and coordination among all relevant departments and organizations.

 

A coordination meeting was held in Meherpur to review and strengthen the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act and to discuss ways to accelerate anti-tobacco initiatives in the district. The meeting was organized by the District Administration in cooperation with the Health Department, Civil Surgeon’s Office, and various social organizations.

The discussion focused on ensuring proper enforcement of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, reducing tobacco consumption, and promoting public awareness about its harmful effects on health and the environment.

The meeting was presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Abdulla Al Mahmud Baki Mia, while Civil Surgeon Dr. Abdur Shaheed Prodhan, Tobacco Control Committee Member Secretary Dr. Asad Hossain, and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Moniruzzaman and Babul Hossain attended as special guests.

During the meeting, the speakers emphasized the importance of stricter enforcement of existing tobacco control laws and encouraged greater participation from local government bodies, NGOs, and the community. They also highlighted the role of social movements in promoting awareness and mobilizing people to lead tobacco-free lives.

Officials noted that effective law enforcement and community involvement are key to reducing tobacco use and protecting public health. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from all departments and organizations to work together in building a tobacco-free Meherpur.

 An anti-smoking leaflet campaign was recently held at the Meherpur Bus Terminal, aiming to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and to promote a smoke-free public transport environment.

The campaign was organized by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, in collaboration with the Health Department and BT Trust, under the broader initiative of the Tobacco Control Law Implementation Program. Representatives from various social organizations, journalists, and transport workers actively participated in the event.

As part of the campaign, leaflets were distributed among drivers, helpers, and passengers to encourage them to avoid smoking in public transport and to help build a smoke-free environment in Meherpur.

The program was inaugurated by Civil Surgeon Dr. Abdur Shaheed Prodhan, who emphasized that maintaining smoke-free public transport is essential for safeguarding public health and ensuring a cleaner environment. He urged everyone, especially transport workers, to cooperate in the proper enforcement of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act.

Also present at the event were Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ismail Hossain, District Tobacco Control Task Force Member Secretary Dr. Asad Hossain, and Subah’s Executive Director Moinul Alam. The speakers highlighted the importance of raising public awareness through continuous campaigns and community engagement.

Before the campaign began, leaders from the Bus Owners Association and Transport Workers Union pledged their support for keeping public vehicles completely smoke-free. They also expressed their commitment to help distribute awareness materials and monitor compliance among drivers and passengers.

This campaign marks another step in Meherpur’s ongoing efforts to implement the Tobacco Control Law and establish a healthy, smoke-free community for all.

 In a significant step towards ensuring public health and implementing the Tobacco Control Act, a total of 64 buses in Meherpur have been officially declared smoke-free. The announcement was made on Saturday under the initiative of the District Tobacco Control Task Force and in collaboration with Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, as part of an ongoing effort to promote a tobacco-free environment in public transport.

The event was held at the Meherpur Bus Terminal, where stickers and posters bearing the message “No Smoking” were placed on buses to raise awareness among passengers and transport workers.

The ceremony was presided over by Civil Surgeon Dr. Abdur Shaheed Prodhan, with Additional District Magistrate Abdul Kudus attending as the chief guest. The event also saw participation from District Motor Workers’ Union President Abul Kalam Azad, District Tobacco Control Law Enforcement Committee Member Secretary Dr. Asad Hossain, and Subah’s Project Coordinator Masum Hossain.

Speakers at the event emphasized the need for strict enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act to ensure that all forms of public transport remain smoke-free. They also discussed the harmful effects of both active and passive smoking and encouraged the community to adopt healthier habits.

As part of the campaign, awareness leaflets were distributed among transport workers and passengers, and buses across Meherpur were marked with anti-smoking stickers to remind everyone of the importance of maintaining a clean, smoke-free environment.

This initiative represents a strong commitment from the local administration, health department, and Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha to protect public health and create a tobacco-free Meherpur.

 

A discussion meeting was held in Meherpur to mark World No Tobacco Day, organized by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha and the Department of Health, with the support of the District Administration. The event aimed to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and promote a tobacco-free society for better public health.

The meeting took place at the Conference Room of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Meherpur, and was presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Shafiqul Islam. The discussion focused on the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act, the dangers of smoking and tobacco use, and the importance of collective responsibility in creating a smoke-free environment.

Speakers highlighted that tobacco use poses a major threat to health and human life, especially among the youth, and emphasized strict enforcement of existing laws to protect non-smokers from exposure.

Special guest Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Rabiul Islam discussed the government’s initiatives to reduce tobacco use and improve public awareness. He also urged local organizations and volunteers to join the anti-tobacco movement and continue awareness programs at the community level.

Other attendees included representatives from various government departments, journalists, NGO workers, and members of civil society. The speakers stressed that to build a healthy Bangladesh, it is essential to make homes, workplaces, and public areas completely smoke-free.

The event concluded with a collective pledge to support all anti-tobacco activities and work together to build a tobacco-free Meherpur for a healthier future generation.

 An anti-smoking awareness campaign was organized at the Meherpur Bus Terminal as part of the initiative to ensure the implementation of the “Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act”. The campaign aimed to make public transport vehicles and terminals smoke-free zones and raise awareness among drivers, helpers, and passengers about the dangers of smoking.

The program was conducted under the supervision of the Meherpur District Administration and with the support of the Health Department of Meherpur. Volunteers distributed leaflets and posters bearing the slogan, “Stay away from smoking in public transport,” to encourage people to follow the law and maintain a healthy environment.

The campaign took place at various locations around the bus terminal. Drivers, helpers, and passengers were informed about the harmful effects of smoking and the legal restrictions on smoking in public vehicles. Officials from the District Health Department, journalists, and members of civil society also participated in the campaign.

The awareness drive emphasized that creating a smoke-free public transport system is essential for protecting the health of the community and ensuring a cleaner environment in Meherpur.

 

An extensive anti-smoking awareness campaign has been launched across Meherpur district to promote a smoke-free environment and raise awareness about public health and human rights.

The campaign is part of the national initiative “Establishing the Rights of the Marginalized People”, supported by the Health Department and implemented in cooperation with Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha (SUBAH). The goal of this initiative is to reduce smoking in public transport and public places, ensuring a healthier and safer environment for all citizens.

The program began with an inauguration ceremony held at the Meherpur Deputy Commissioner’s Office, where the official campaign was inaugurated. Leaflets and posters carrying anti-smoking messages were distributed among the public to spread awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and passive smoking.

Health Department officials, journalists, local representatives, and volunteers participated in the campaign. They actively engaged the community, especially transport workers and passengers, in discussions about the legal restrictions on smoking in public vehicles and the risks associated with tobacco use.

Officials stated that tobacco consumption remains a serious threat to public health and that such campaigns are essential to encourage people to quit smoking and to protect non-smokers from the dangers of second-hand smoke.

The campaign will continue for four consecutive days across all upazilas of Meherpur district. As part of the activities, anti-smoking stickers will be placed in public transport, and awareness rallies and courtyard meetings will be held to promote a smoke-free lifestyle.

This initiative represents a collaborative effort by the Health Department and Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha to create a smoke-free, healthy, and conscious community in Meherpur — setting an example for other districts across Bangladesh.