DAE declares all its premises tobacco-free

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has declared all of its premises 100% smoke- and tobacco-free in a move aimed at protecting public health and shielding non-smokers from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

The declaration was made on Tuesday at a discussion titled "Declaration of the Department of Agricultural Extension as a 100% Smoke and Tobacco-Free Institution" held at the department's conference room.

Director (Horticulture Wing) of the DAE Dr Md Hazrat Ali announced the decision.

Speaking as the chief guest, he said the harmful effects of smoking are not limited to smokers, as non-smokers are also exposed to the dangers of second-hand smoke.

He said the use, sale and promotion of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, biris, zarda, gul and sada pata, would be completely prohibited on all DAE premises from Tuesday.

The decision was taken to protect officers, employees and service recipients from the harmful effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke, he added.

In his welcome remarks, DORP Founder and Chief Executive Officer AHM Noman said Bangladesh has one of the highest tobacco use rates in South Asia, underscoring the need for stronger tobacco control measures.

Presenting the keynote paper, Tobacco Control Project Coordinator Zeba Afroza said around 38.4 million adults in Bangladesh are exposed to second-hand smoke every day at workplaces, public places and on public transport, citing the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017.

She also referred to a study by Johns Hopkins University, saying the government collected about Tk41,000 crore in tobacco tax revenue in the 2024-25 fiscal year, while the economic cost of tobacco-related deaths, illnesses and environmental damage was estimated at nearly Tk87,000 crore.

Zeba Afroza also highlighted the adverse impact of tobacco cultivation on agricultural land and the environment, saying alternative high-value crops could provide farmers with higher incomes while protecting public health and the environment.

Presiding over the programme, DAE Director (Crops Wing) Dr Salma Laiju said the initiative would help protect nearly 86,000 officers and employees working in around 600 DAE offices across the country, as well as farmers and other service recipients visiting the offices.

Following the meeting, public notices, signboards and stickers promoting smoke- and tobacco-free premises were installed at key locations across the department.