Mohammad Khaybar Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), has stated that the corporation will take effective measures to control tobacco use, protect public health, and safeguard people from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
He made the statement while addressing a consultation meeting titled “Actions Required to Ensure a 100% Smoke-Free and Tobacco-Free Environment in Dhaka South City Corporation” as the chief guest on Wednesday afternoon, October 28, 2026. The meeting was jointly organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and DSCC at the DSCC conference room, a press release said.
Presenting the keynote paper at the meeting, Mukhlesur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Health and Nutrition Sector at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, stated that, according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), approximately 37.8 million people in Bangladesh use tobacco products, while 19.2 million people smoke. Nearly 40 million people are exposed to secondhand smoke despite not smoking themselves.
According to GATS 2017, approximately 42 percent of people who do not smoke are exposed to secondhand smoke in workplaces. The key reasons include limited awareness of tobacco control laws, the easy availability of tobacco products, inadequate and ineffective enforcement of existing laws, and the deceptive tactics employed by tobacco companies.
Speakers at the meeting observed that smoking is frequently seen in workplaces, exposing many non-smokers to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. They emphasized the need to take necessary measures to ensure that workplaces remain 100 percent smoke-free to protect everyone from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
They further stressed that measures should be taken to prohibit smoking in public places, including bus terminals and restaurants under DSCC's jurisdiction, with mobile court operations conducted where necessary.
The speakers called for appropriate directives to ensure smoke-free workplaces and surrounding areas, the installation of no-smoking signs, and proactive measures to make all DSCC offices completely free from smoking and smoking zones.
They also pointed out that although tobacco advertising is prohibited, tobacco companies are strategically using retail outlets to promote their products. They stressed that this practice must be stopped and recommended stronger measures to prevent violations of tobacco control laws in markets, public places, and commercial outlets under DSCC's jurisdiction.
In addition, the speakers emphasized the need for the city corporation to allocate funds for tobacco control activities in its upcoming budget and ensure that the allocated funds are properly utilized to establish smoke-free environments. They also called for increased social media campaigns to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco, particularly encouraging young people to take an active role in these efforts.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Jahane Ferdous Binte Rahman, Chief Health Officer of DSCC. Other attendees included Assistant Health Officer Dr. Nur Hossain, DSCC Secretary Mashiur Rahman Khan, and other senior officials of the corporation.
