Tobacco Industries are cunningly doing conspiracy to affect tobacco control programs. It is necessary to protect public health development from Industries including tobacco control. Besides, since tobacco is the main cause of long-term non-communicable diseases like heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung diseases, so government health program will emphasize for sustainable tobacco control in the ongoing operational plan of the Directorate General of Health Services.

Top level officials of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) expressed this views in a seminar titled “Necessity of ensuring the implementation of FCTC article 5.3 and sustainable funding for NCD control” held at meeting room of DGHS on 16 March 2017. DGHS and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust jointly organized the seminar.

Dr. Md. Faruq Hossain Bhuiyan, Line Director of Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) Program of DGHS chaired while Additional Director General of DGHS, Professor Dr. A. H. M Enayet Hossain and Mohammad Ruhul Quddus, Coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) addressed as honorable guest in the seminar. Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam, Technical Advisor of The Union presented keynote speech. Gaous Pearee, Director of WBB Trust provided welcome speech and Aminul Islam Sujon, Executive Editor of Swamaswar, anti-tobacco newsletter published by Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) moderated this event.

Speakers said, ‘Government is very optimistic about tobacco control. Government is formulating various policies regarding tobacco control. But tobacco companies are making various obstacles to disrupt tobacco control programs. Under the guise of anti-tobacco organizations, tobacco companies’ representatives are impeding the anti-tobacco movements. All including media and non-governmental organizations have to be vigilant about this tactics.’

DGHS officials opined, ‘DGHS also active in tobacco control. As like previous, tobacco control will be included with priority in the action plan of DGHS. At the same time any suggestion and recommendation regarding the issue will be taken under consideration. Due to tobacco people are affected by long-term diseases which cost huge amount of money for treatment. People are becoming penny less, so importance should be given on prevention system. There is worldwide commitment and guidance about this.  To mobilize governments NCD control programs including tobacco control private organizations also have to come forward.’

Among others, Professor Khurshida Khanam from Bangladesh University of Health Sciences; Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Huq, National Professional Officer (NCD) of WHO; Dr. Tanveer  Ahmed Chowdhury, Program Manager of NCDC; Dr. Habibullah Talukder, Assistant Professor of National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital; Dr. Shamim Zubayer from National Heart Foundation and Research Hospital; Ataur Rahman, Program Officer of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids; Syeda Anonna Rahman, Program Manager of WBB trust; Tamanna Rahman, Coordinator (Capacity building) of BNNRC participated in the open discussion.