The prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) including heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes is increasing day by day in Bangladesh. According to WHO report, about 60% death causes in Bangladesh because of NCD. One of the main cause of NCDs is smoking and tobacco uses. Special emphasis needs to be on tobacco control to reduce these preventable premature deaths caused by NCDs. Aiming that, coordinated activities of government and non-governmental organizations, budget allocation for tobacco control and formulation and implementation of long term Operation Plan (OP) is necessary.

To control NCD, fund has allocated for tobacco control under Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) Program of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Considering the importance, tobacco control has been included in the NCDC Operational Plan (OP) with budget allocation.

This information came out in a meeting held with Additional Director General of DGHS Professor A. H. M Enayet Hossain and Line Director of NCDC at DGHS Dr. Md. Faruq Hossain Bhuiyan on 01 February 2017 at their office. A delegation team of Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) led by Program Manager of Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust Syeda Anonna Rahman.

In the meeting the delegation team said, ‘there are a need of allocation to mobilize tobacco control program that will contribute in NCD control. Effective success will be possible to achieve though ensuring sustainable funding for tobacco control in OP of NCDC at least for 5 years.’ ​

Professor A. H. M Enayet Hossain has emphasized on government and non-governmental coordination for NCD control. On the other hand, Dr. Md. Faruq Hossain Bhuiyan said, ‘as tobacco is one of the vital causes of NCD, so this has been included in the NCD control program with priority. 

Among others, representatives from WBB Trust, AID Foundation and Tobacco Control and Research Cell were present in the meeting.