BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Tobacco Industries (TI) are doing aggressive marketing to hook young people into deadly product cigarettes through various youthful events. In November 2024, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) organized musical concert with aim of selling 90 thousand cigarettes among Khulna University’s students and setting up eight smoking booths. The University administration provided permission on-the-basis of a youthful event, but JTI targeted about 12000 teen-and-young students. While the tobacco control law banned smoking in education institutes, and tobacco advertisement-promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) and tobacco control guidelines for local government institutes (LGI) banned selling tobacco within 100 meters of education institutes.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: The Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) and affiliated activists and organizations acted quickly, bringing the issue of violation of TC law and LGI guidelines to policymakers and university administration. BATA sent letters to policymakers and university administration, and press statements to the media to stop this program. BATA also organized demonstrations and engaged journalists to expose this in the media and met with the Vice-Chancellor of the university. The BATA team exposed JTI’s illegal activities, urging enforcement of the TC law and LGI guidelines that ensure a 100% smoke-free and TAPS-free environment, and prohibit selling tobacco near educational institutions.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: The quick and active role of BATA, the university canceled smoking booths, patrolled the event venue, and ensured compliance with regulations including a smoke-free environment during the concert. This intervention prevented tobacco marketing to students and highlighted the importance of tobacco-free educational institutions.
CONCLUSIONS: This success story illustrates the effectiveness of coordinated actions of advocacy groups with the authorities and media is effective. To ensure a healthier future, all universities must remain vigilant and proactive in rejecting tobacco-related events. This experience offers valuable insights for other institutions facing similar challenges, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding public health and adhering to tobacco control laws.