BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Despite being a signatory to the WHO FCTC, Bangladesh faces challenges in enforcing the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act. With 35.3% of adults using tobacco (GATS Bangladesh 2017), effective measures are critical. Building on a decade of experience, Grambangla Unnayan Committee (GUC) implements a tobacco control project focusing on Tobacco Advertisement, Promotion, and Sponsorship (TAPS) bans in 18 municipalities of Barishal division. Supported by Vital Strategies under the Bloomberg Initiative, GUC collaborates with 18 local development partners and engages LGIs to enforce tobacco control laws, evict unauthorized POS near schools/hospitals, and promote vendor licensing.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: GUC mobilized LGIs, TFCs, and CSOs to combat TAPS violations at POSs. Strategies included workshops, mobile courts, eviction of POSs near educational and healthcare facilities, licensing drives, awareness campaigns using posters and miking, and monitoring TAPS violations through an online surveillance system. CSACs were activated to monitor and report violations, while SMS warnings were sent to 6,355 POSs. A total of 1,529 stakeholders participated in capacity-building initiatives, covering 14,200 POSs.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: Policy Enforcement: 12 municipalities mandated POS licensing, issuing 2,970 licenses. Mobile courts conducted 36 sessions, collecting fines of 339,500 Taka, and closing 20 POSs.
Surveillance Impact: Online monitoring showed significant progress. Advertisements per POS dropped from 3.2 (2019) to 1.2 (2024), while POSs with no advertisements rose from 2.6% to 31.3%. Besides ​violation report are shared ​with the magistrate of 12 municipalities to take actions.
CONCLUSIONS: GUC’s collaborative efforts with LGIs, supported by Vital Strategies, have advanced tobacco control in Barishal. These initiatives offer a scalable model for achieving a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040, aligning with SDG 3.A and the Ministry of Health's Tobacco Control Roadmap.