The harmful effects of tobacco are present in health, economy and environment. One of the major causes of non-communicable diseases is tobacco use. At present, the global mortality rate due to non-communicable diseases is 68% which is increasing at an alarming rate. Due to the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases among the people day by day, long-term treatment and the chronic nature of the disease, it is having a serious impact on the socio-economic status and medical expenses.

Providing quality medical care to the people for the growing disease is a big challenge for the state and the government. In this situation, it is necessary to pay attention to physical, mental health and environmental protection.

As part of strengthening public health protection and disease prevention, the Prime Minister has vowed to reduce tobacco use by 5% by 2040. The government has specific goals in building a tobacco-free Bangladesh. Achieving success requires amending the current law as well as overcoming the weaknesses of laws that conflict with the government’s tobacco control efforts in the country and creating funds for government and non-government organizations to control tobacco.

In view of this, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust and the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance with the financial support of The Union jointly organized a conference on “Sustainable Tobacco Control in Bangladesh” on 12 January 2021 at Krishibid Institute of Bangladesh.

The conference will be attended by hundreds of government, non-government and international organizations, environmentalists, media representatives, agriculturists and public health experts from across the country. The conference will discuss issues related to tobacco control and present several articles on it.