World No Tobacco Day 2015 Observed

National programme of World No Tobacco Day 2015: The national programme of World No  Tobacco Day 2015 was held with much grandeur at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, Dhaka on 31 May 2015. The programme was organized by National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC), MOHFW.

The programme was presided over by Mr Syed Manjurul Islam, Secretary, MOHFW. Quader, Additional Secretary, MOHFW. Mr. Mohammad Nasim, MP, Honorable Minister for MOHFW graced the occasion as chief guest, while Professor Dr. Deen Mohammad Nurul Haque, Director General of Health Services, Mr. Md. Nur Hossain Talukder, Director General of Family Planning, Dr. M Mostafa Zaman, Acting WHO Representative to Bangladesh, Professor Dr. Mahmud Hasan, President, Bangladesh Medical Association and Professor Dr. M Iqbal Arslan Secretary General of Bangladesh Medical Association were present as special guests.

Honorable Minister for MOHFW said “Tobacco is the rout of other addictions. So, to save the young generation we should stop initiation of tobacco use of youth.” The speakers delivered speeches on deleterious effects of tobacco on public health and burden caused in national economy. This year’s WNTD theme– ‘Stop illicit trade of tobacco product’ was highlighted in their deliberations. They emphasized on the necessity to create public awareness and to enforce the tobacco control law strictly. MOHFW honored three person/organizations with crest and certificate for their commendable effort for tobacco control of Bangladesh, viz. District Taskforce Committee, Khulna, Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Mr C.G.S. Kamal, an eminent tobacco control activist. Meanwhile, Mr Firoz Shah Alam, Member, National Board of Revenue and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust received the WHO South-East Asia Regional Director’s Appreciation Award. Around 1000 guests from various departments of the government, non-government organizations, civil societies and mass media attended the programme.  A grand colorful rally was organized which traversed from National Press Club to Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

Press briefing:

A press briefing was organized on 28 May 2015 at the conference room of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to inform the press of the event, WNTD. About a hundred journalists from print and electronic media attended the briefing.The State Minister for MOHFW Mr Zahid Maleque emphasized on to stop illicit trade of tobacco with a concerted effort of all government agencies and other stakeholders and to collect the 1% health development surcharge properly. 

Supplementary in the daily newspaper on 31 May:

A supplementary including the message of Hon’ble President and Prime Minister on the theme of the World No Tobacco Day 2015 was published in three national dailies, namely, “Doinik Ittefaq”, “Doinik Kaler Kontho” and “The Daily New Age” on 31 May 2015.

Advertisement in the daily newspaper on 31 May:

An advertisement on the Tobacco Control Law was published in four national dailies, namely, “Doinik Bangladeh Pratidin”, “Doinik Ittefaq”, “Doinik Kaler Kontho” and “The Daily New Age” on 31 May 2015.