Workshop with Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) on Implementation tobacco control law in transport Sector held

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) have jointly organized a seminar on “Implementation of Tobacco Control Act in Public Transport Sector” on 02 February 2017 with the support from Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK). The program was chaired by Mr. Nazmul Ahsan Mazumder, Director (Enforcement) of BRTA. He He said that BRTA will take necessary steps for for ensuring smoke free transport like-operating mobile court and including tobacco control issue in their existing training curriculum, set condition before giving transport/car fitness & driving license.‘ Various awareness activities for drivers, conductors and helper will be organized by Transport Owners and Workers Associations,’ said the representatives of Transport Owners and Workers Associations in the seminar. Mr. Md. Joynal Abedin, Joint Director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) was also present in the seminar and said that BIWTA will circulate necessary notice for smoke free water transports, ensure display of no smoking signage, set the big sign board on this issue at the entrance of the terminals and some water transports can be branding with the messages of Tobacco Control Act. BIWTA can also organize big open air events on tobacco control with the support of DAM. Assistant Health Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation, Prosecution Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation, Assistant Police Commissioner of DMP, Executive Magistrate of BRTA, Dr. Mahfuz Bhuiyan, Grant Manager of CTFK and other NGO representative were also present in the seminar and gave their valuable speech. Mr. Iqbal Masud, Head, Health Sector of DAM was present and gave speech on how BRTA and Transport Owners and Workers Associations can play a vital role on tobacco control and how DAM can join with them. The key note paper with a power point presentation was presented by Mr. Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Assistant Director & Project Coordinator of Tobacco Control Program of DAM.