DHAKA, May 28, 2025 (BSS)- Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Quais Chowdhury today assured that the annual budget allocated for tobacco control will be effectively utilized through structured planning to protect public health and ensure a 100 percent smoke-free environment.

He made these remarks while chairing a discussion titled "Steps Toward a Smoke- and Tobacco-Free Dhaka North City Corporation," jointly organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and DNCC at the DNCC conference room, a DNCC press release said. 

DNCC Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Imdadul Haque, Health Officers Dr Mahmuda Polly and Dr Firoz Alam and Director of Health and WASH Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Iqbal Masud, among others, were present at the event. 
Vice President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Dr Mohammad Khalilullah outlined the meeting's objectives.

Shariful Islam, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, presented findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017, revealing that 37.8 million people in Bangladesh use tobacco products, with 19.2 million actively smoking. Alarmingly, about 40 million non-smokers are exposed to secondhand smoke, with a rate of 42.7%. He attributed this to low public awareness, rampant tobacco promotion, weak law enforcement, and deceptive tobacco company tactics, read the press release. 

Speakers emphasized the need for 100% smoke-free workplaces and recommended mobile court drives at public places under DNCC's jurisdiction, including bus stands and restaurants. They also called for clear directives; smoke-free signage and declaring all DNCC offices entirely smoke-free. The speakers further urged strict enforcement against tobacco advertising at sales outlets and advocated for increased public awareness campaigns, particularly targeting youth through social media, on the harmful effects of tobacco, it added.