BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Despite the enactment of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 (amended in 2013), enforcement of tobacco control laws in Bangladesh remains limited due to a lack of awareness among policymakers and institutional leaders. Challenges include insufficient prioritization of tobacco control in policymaking and widespread violations, particularly in public spaces and entertainment media. Addressing these gaps requires sustained advocacy efforts and collaboration across ministries and sectors.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: Key interventions include:

• Policy Advocacy: Advocated for stricter enforcement through meetings, discussions, Policy briefs, and letters with government ministries.
  
• Strategic Litigation: Successfully advocating for a ban on e-cigarettes.
• Inter-ministerial Collaboration: Securing commitments from key ministries, including Health, Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, to integrate tobacco control measures into their respective sectors.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Conducting public awareness campaigns and engaging with media to educate the public about the harms of tobacco use and promote compliance with the tobacco control law.
• Addressing Violations: Intervening in specific cases of law violations, such as those observed in entertainment media and public exhibitions, to ensure compliance and set a precedent for enforcement.

RESULTS AND IMPACT:

• A ban on e-cigarette imports and marketing, the formation of an expert committee to amend the Tobacco Control Law, and directives from various ministries to enforce smoke-free policies.
• Enhanced public awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and the importance of adhering to tobacco control laws.
• Successful interventions, such as the Bangladesh National Museum's commitment to adhere to tobacco control laws and the directive from the Dhaka Deputy Commissioner to include tobacco control in mobile court agendas.

CONCLUSIONS: Sustained advocacy, supported by multi-sectoral collaboration, is essential for effective implementation of tobacco control laws in Bangladesh. MANAS’s efforts highlight the potential of advocacy-driven interventions to bridge policy gaps and promote compliance, ultimately contributing to a healthier, smoke-free society.