Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, spoke as the chief guest at a seminar titled "The Need for Amendment of Tobacco Control Law for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases and Protection of Youth Health: Role and Expectations from Young Doctors" held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, today. – PID

DHAKA, Oct 22, 2025 (BSS) – Primary and Mass Education Adviser Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar today stressed the need for creating mass awareness to establish a tobacco-free society.

“The movement for a tobacco-free society must begin with raising awareness. Physicians, as trusted figures in society, have a great responsibility in this regard and must come forward to build a tobacco-free society,” the adviser said, urging physicians to play an effective role from their respective positions.

He was addressing a seminar titled ‘The Need for Amendments to the Tobacco Control Act for Preventing Non-Communicable Diseases and Protecting Youth Health: The Role and Expectations of Young Doctors’ held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.

Dr. Bidhan said, “If a smoking doctor advises a patient to quit smoking, that advice won’t be effective. Therefore, doctors themselves must refrain from smoking.”

“Teachers must highlight these issues during lessons and training programs,” he added, expressing commitment to making school campuses completely tobacco-free.

Prof. Dr. Khondaker Abdul Awal Rizvi presided over the event.
Dr. Farzana Rahman Munmun of the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute presented the keynote paper at the seminar.

Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) Program Director Sheikh Momena Moni, NTCC Director General Md. Akhtaruzzaman, and CTFK Bangladesh Lead Policy Adviser Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman joined the seminar as special guests.