A discussion meeting titled “Expectations and Responsibilities of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association in Strengthening the Tobacco Control Law” was held on Thursday, May 29, at Karwan Bazar in the capital. The event was organized by Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) to advance the goal of a tobacco-free Bangladesh.
The session began with a welcome speech by Mohammad Azhar Ali Talukder, retired secretary and advisor to DORP.
Md. Abdus Salam Mia joined as a special discussant, while the closing remarks were delivered by AHM Noman, founder and CEO of DORP. Members of the executive committee of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association were also present.
In the discussion, Dr. Silvana Ishrat, Advocacy Coordinator of DORP’s Tobacco Control Project, presented six key proposals from the draft amendment prepared by the Health Services Division. These proposals are aligned with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The proposed reforms include the removal of designated smoking areas in all public places and transport to protect non-smokers, a ban on the display of tobacco products at sales points to prevent indirect advertising, and the prohibition of corporate social responsibility activities by tobacco companies.
Additional measures include safeguarding young people from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, banning the sale of loose or single tobacco products, and increasing the size of pictorial health warnings on packaging from 50 percent to 90 percent.
The meeting also included discussions on ensuring that Dhaka University’s administrative buildings are effectively smoke-free, engaging policymakers in strengthening tobacco control laws, and producing research-based reports to support anti-tobacco efforts. The session underscored the importance of involving university journalists in public health advocacy and policy reform.
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