Fight against Voyage of Discovery

In summer 1999, British American Tobacco (BAT) launched its ‘Voyage of Discovery’ to promote its John Player Gold Leaf cigarette brand. The Voyage involve a yacht that would travel to 17 countries in 170 days, with the final stop being in Bangladesh. WBB Trust encouraged other organizations to join us in opposing the promotional campaign; as a result, the Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance (BATA), which is in Bengali Bangladesh Tamak Birodhi Jote, was formed and remains active to this day.

Sink that ship which addicts and kills people in the name of discovery

As a result of the joint campaign to oppose the Voyage of Discovery, which included the filing of a writ petition, the High Court banned all campaigns organized by BAT to promote the voyage, and ordered its yacht to leave Bangladesh. Further, the High Court ordered that the government pass a tobacco control law.

BATA continues to grow in strength. It now has over seven hundred organizations working together for tobacco control.

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