Department of Forests today (27 October 2013) declared it’s all offices (central, divisional, district & sub-districts) in Bangladesh is smoke free. Today Chief Conservator of Forest Md. Yunus Ali declared this announcement at his office during a discussion meeting on tobacco control law implementation by Department of Forest (DoF), Sabuj Pata (Green Leaf) & Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust. While Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam, Director of WBB Trust, Shahed Alam; Chief Coordinator of Sabuj Pata also spoke at this meeting.

Yunus Ali told, from today 27 October 2013, all branch offices under the Department of Forest (DoF) should be smoke free. No one allowed smoking inside of the office building. Officers & staff of DoF will make sure to keep their offices smoke free.

He also told that, Government of Bangladesh passed the tobacco control law titled “Smoking & Tobacco Products Uses (Control) (Amendment) Act 2013” in National Parliament in 29 April of this year. As government institute, we have to respect & obey the tobacco control law. This declaration is symbol of honor to our tobacco control law and I do hope other government institutes will encourage through DoF declaration.

Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam of WBB Trust welcomed & congratulate DoF & it’s chief Conservator for their willingness to declare to it’s all offices smoke free. This declaration will save people from passive smoking. It is noted that, passive smoking is also harmful as like smoking.

He also said that, as per newly amended tobacco control law, it is mandatory for all government & non-government offices to hang-on “no-smoking sign” at the buildings. Law also directed to be fined if anyone violates this TC law.

Shaed Alam of Sabuj Pata also welcome & congratulate DoF for this great declaration to save people from passive smoking. He also mentioned that, smoking is gate way of any other drug addiction. So to prevent drug addiction, needs to emphasize tobacco control as well.

While Hafizur Rahman; PRO of DoF, Maruf Rahman; National Advocacy Officer & Syed Saiful Alam; Media Advocacy Officer of WBB Trust is also spoke. While Iman Uddin Imon; Assistant Advocacy Officer & Akhtaruzzaman Swapan, Assistant Network Officer of WBB Trust and senior officers of DoF was present.

At the end, WBB Trust handed over “No-smoking signboard” to Md. Yunus Ali, Chief Conservator of Forest.