Gazipur City Corporation pledges tobacco-free offices

Gazipur City Corporation has pledged to establish a tobacco-free environment across all its offices as part of efforts to protect public health and safeguard citizens and employees from the harmful effects of tobacco use.

The commitment was made by Md Shawkat Hossain Sarker, Administrator of Gazipur City Corporation, while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting on tobacco control held at Gazipur Nagar Bhaban on Monday.

The meeting was jointly organised by Gazipur City Corporation and the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP).

Addressing the meeting, Shawkat said relevant stakeholders would undertake coordinated initiatives to ensure effective implementation of the provisions of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005, as amended in 2026, and to establish tobacco-free environments throughout the corporation’s offices.

DORP Tobacco Control Project Coordinator Zeba Afroza presented the keynote paper at the meeting.

She said a significant proportion of Bangladesh’s adult population uses tobacco products, while millions are exposed to second-hand smoke in workplaces, public places and public transport.

Citing the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017, she said around 37.8 million adults in Bangladesh use tobacco products, while about 38.4 million adults are exposed to second-hand smoke in workplaces, public places and public transport.

According to the survey, 42.7 per cent of adults were exposed to second-hand smoke in indoor workplace areas, 44 per cent on public transport and around 49 per cent in restaurants.

Zeba said second-hand smoke was also highly harmful to health and cited a study published in The Lancet, which found that around 1.7 million people worldwide died from exposure to second-hand smoke in 2023.

She said tobacco-related diseases and premature deaths were placing a significant burden on Bangladesh’s healthcare system and economy.

Around 200,000 people die prematurely every year from tobacco-related diseases, while the overall economic loss caused by tobacco use, including healthcare expenditure and productivity losses, is estimated at around Tk 870 billion, she said.

Zeba expressed hope that Gazipur City Corporation’s decision to make tobacco control a public health priority would set a positive example for other government and private institutions across the country.

The meeting was chaired by Tanzila Khanam, Chief Executive Officer (Joint Secretary) of Gazipur City Corporation.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s message on World No Tobacco Day 2026, Tanzila said the government was committed to protecting children, adolescents and future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine.

She said the prohibition of smoking and tobacco use in public places and public transport was an important part of the government’s efforts to achieve that goal.

Speakers at the meeting stressed the need to increase public awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco, strengthen Gazipur City Corporation’s institutional capacity for tobacco control and ensure coordinated action among relevant stakeholders.

They also emphasised effective enforcement of existing laws and regulations to create a healthy and tobacco-free working environment.

DORP informed the meeting that coordinated measures would be taken to install public notices, warning signs and other necessary materials across all offices of Gazipur City Corporation.

Regular activities will also be undertaken to maintain a healthy, safe and tobacco-free workplace for employees, the organisation said.

Officials from different levels of Gazipur City Corporation and representatives of DORP attended the meeting.