Date: August 14, 2024

Venue: Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Meherpur

A meeting of the District Taskforce Committee on Tobacco Control was held in Meherpur, chaired by Ms. Sifat Mehnaz, Deputy Commissioner of Meherpur.

During the meeting, participants discussed strategies to strengthen the implementation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act and emphasized the importance of community-level awareness.

A one-year action plan was adopted to carry out public awareness activities aimed at reducing tobacco use and promoting a tobacco-free environment across the district.

 

Date: 11 July 2024
Location: Meherpur Sadar Upazila Parishad

A monthly NGO coordination meeting was held on 11th July 2024 under the chairmanship of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Meherpur Sadar Upazila.

The meeting was attended by various NGO representatives active in the region, including Mr. Moin-ul-Alam, the Chief Executive of Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha. His presence highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to collaborative development and community empowerment through coordinated efforts with the local administration and other non-governmental organizations.

The coordination meeting focused on evaluating current projects, enhancing transparency, and improving cooperation between government and NGO initiatives for the betterment of the local population.

Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha remains committed to working hand-in-hand with the government and local bodies to uplift vulnerable communities and ensure sustainable development across the region.

 Dainik Mathabhanga, November 28, 2019, 

Staff Reporter: An assembly for persons with disabilities was held in Chuadanga. With the slogan “Let’s build an inclusive society together — a safe shelter against gender-based violence, child marriage, and social irregularities”, the event was organized by Protyasha Social Development Organization with the support of Manusher Jonno Foundation, funded by UKAid.

The event took place on Wednesday at 9 AM at the open stage of the District Shilpakala Academy. It began with a cultural program, followed by the national anthem, flag hoisting, and the release of balloons to inaugurate the assembly.

Protyasha Social Development Organization’s Executive Director Billal Hossain presided over the discussion. The Holy Qur’an was recited by Abdul Karim. The chief guest was Deputy Commissioner Nazrul Islam Sarkar, who emphasized that no nation can develop by leaving behind people with special needs. He said every individual is equal and that extra attention must be paid to ensure facilities for people with disabilities, especially in education. He encouraged schools to include children with disabilities alongside others and called for creating employment opportunities for them through training, instead of promoting dependency through begging.

Special guest Dr. ASM Maruf Hasan, Civil Surgeon of Chuadanga, announced that one bed in every ward of the Chuadanga Sadar Hospital would be reserved for people with disabilities and promised that all their medical expenses would be waived.

Mayor Obaidur Rahman Chowdhury Jipu pledged to include all persons with disabilities in the municipal disability allowance program and to make Chuadanga a disability-friendly city. He also committed to prioritizing services for people with disabilities.

Other special guests and speakers included:

• Santosh Kumar Nath, Deputy Director, Department of Social Services
• Nikhil Ranjan Chakraborty, District Education Officer
• Mostafizur Rahman, District Primary Education Officer
• Masum Ahmed, Deputy Director, Department of Youth Development
• Abdul Awal, Deputy Director, Department of Women Affairs
• Dipak Kumar Saha, Deputy Director, Family Planning
• Masudur Rahman, Inspector (Operations), Sadar Police Station
• Khairul Islam, District Disability Affairs Officer

Representatives from various institutions and organizations also spoke, including:

• Kamruzzaman, Manager, Standard Bank Ltd.
• Nuruzzaman, Vice President, Islami Bank Ltd.
• Abdul Latif, Division Officer, Minister Hi-Tech Park Ltd. and MyOne Electronics
• SM Israfil Hossain, Former Principal, Chuadanga Govt. Women’s College
• Abdus Salam Biplob, Chairman, Chitla Union Parishad
• Ali Hossain Jowardar, Chairman, Begumpur Union Parishad
• Anwar Hossain, Head Teacher, Hijolgari Secondary School
• Sainul Hossain Biswas, Head Teacher, Suhrawardy Smarani Vidyapith
• Zahir Rayhan, Deputy Director, Wave Foundation
• Ilias Hossain, Executive Director, Palli Unnayan Sangstha
• Sahed Hasan Halim, Legal Coordinator, Atmobishwas
• Saidur Rahman Lipu, Executive Director, Grameen Samaj Unnayan Sangstha
• Kamruzzaman, Executive Director, Compact Foundation
• Moinul Islam, Executive Director, Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha
• Abed-ud-Doula, Executive Director, WARP

Persons with disabilities who spoke included Zahidul Islam, Taslima Khatun, Jannatul Ferdous, Sultan Badsha, and Suravi Sultana.

Saidur Rahman, Coordinator of Protyasha, delivered the welcome speech, and the event was conducted by Yunus Ali, Project Coordinator of Protyasha’s PRPD project.

In the third segment of the event, chaired again by Billal Hossain, there were discussions on:

• The Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013 by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Yah Iya Khan
• Facilities for people with disabilities by Santosh Kumar Nath
• Health services and employment by Khairul Islam

The event was supported by:

• Rajin Salman, Program Officer, PRPD Project
• Rubina Khatun, Project Accountant
• Sajedul Islam, Saidur Rahman Rana, and Abdur Rahman, Field Volunteers

 

Date: November 20, 2019

Venue: Subah Training Center

A discussion meeting titled “Engaging Men and Boys to Prevent Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Children” was organized by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha in collaboration with BRAC.

The event brought together members of the civil society to exchange views on how men and adolescent boys can play an active role in preventing gender-based violence and promoting equality within the community.

Mr. Shah Momin, Upazila Executive Officer of Meherpur Sadar, attended the program as the Chief Guest. He emphasized the importance of awareness and collective responsibility in building a violence-free and gender-sensitive society.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from all participants to continue working together to promote respect, safety, and equal rights for women and children at every level of society.

 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.