Discussion Meeting Held in Sylhet to Ensure Smoke-Free Public Transport and Terminals
· Sylhet District Bus-Minibus Owners Association Office and Sylhet Central Bus Terminal, Kadamtali, Sylhet
On 15 September 2026, an important discussion meeting was convened at the Sylhet District Bus-Minibus Owners Association Office and Sylhet Central Bus Terminal, Kadamtali, to advance implementation of the Tobacco Control Act in public transport and establish smoke-free environments. The meeting brought together transport owners, workers' union leaders, and development organizations committed to protecting public health in the transport sector.
Mr. Abul Hasan Chowdhury, Chairman of Sylhet District Road Transport Bus-Minibus Owners Association, presided over the meeting. Honored guests included Haji Mohammad Norul Islam, Chairman of Sylhet District Bus-Minibus Coach-Microbus Workers Union, and Mohammad Abdul Hamid, Executive Director of Sylhet Development Society. Representatives and members of the Bus-Minibus Owners Association, Coach-Microbus Workers Union, and other affiliated organizations participated actively in the discussions.
Key Discussion Topics The meeting comprehensively addressed several critical areas: - Implementation Status: Current situation and progress in implementing the Tobacco Control Act in public transport and terminals - Health Protection: Ensuring tobacco-free environments for both passengers and transport workers - Stakeholder Roles: The crucial responsibilities of transport owners and workers in enforcing tobacco control regulations - Awareness and Prevention: Strategies to increase public awareness about smoking bans and prevent tobacco product use and promotion - Coordination: Importance of coordinated action between transport stakeholders and government authorities
Mohammad Moazzem Hosen, Coordinator of Development Activities of Society (DAS), delivered the keynote presentation. He provided detailed insights into the current implementation landscape of the Tobacco Control Act in public transport and terminals, identified existing challenges, and outlined specific actions required from transport sector stakeholders to effectively enforce the law. Kazi Mohammad Hasibul Huq, Project Management Lead at DAS, coordinated and facilitated the entire program.
Participants emphasized that public transport is the primary daily transportation mode for ordinary citizens. Therefore, maintaining buses, coaches, minibuses, and terminals as effectively smoke-free spaces is critically important for public health. Speakers highlighted that successful implementation requires coordinated efforts among transport owners, workers, relevant government authorities, and civil society organizations working on tobacco control.
The meeting emphasized the need for sustained active cooperation from transport owners and workers to properly implement the Tobacco Control Act and keep public transport and terminals smoke-free. Participants renewed their commitment to working collaboratively with government authorities and civil society partners to achieve this goal.
The meeting was organized by Sylhet Development Society (SDS) with collaboration from Development Activities of Society (DAS) and Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Coalition (BATC). This coordinated approach demonstrates the multi-stakeholder commitment required to advance tobacco control in Bangladesh's transport sector.
This divisional meeting represents a significant step toward creating safer, healthier public transportation environments in Sylhet. By bringing together transport owners, workers' leaders, and development organizations, the meeting strengthened collective commitment to tobacco control implementation and reinforced the shared responsibility to protect passengers and transport workers from tobacco-related health hazards. The collaborative approach demonstrated at this meeting is expected to drive meaningful progress toward achieving smoke-free public transport across the Sylhet region.