Transport Owners Pledge to Enforce Tobacco Control Law on Public Transport

Dhaka, 1 October 2026 – A discussion meeting on the implementation of the Tobacco Control (Amended) Act 2026 in public transport was held on 1 October 2026 at the Conference Room of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association in Dhaka. The meeting brought together the Executive Committee members of the Dhaka District Bus Owners Association, with the implementation of the amended law in public transport featuring as one of the key agenda items.

The discussion centred on enforcing the law to prevent smoking and the use of tobacco products in public transport, and on clarifying the responsibilities of transport owners, bus drivers, and staff. Participants agreed that signage bearing the message “Please refrain from smoking and using tobacco products; it is a punishable offence” must be displayed in all public transport vehicles.

The meeting further resolved that all bus staff must refrain from smoking and using tobacco products. Bus staff will also be responsible for ensuring that no passenger or other person smokes or uses tobacco products inside the bus.

The discussion was led by Mr. Saiful Islam, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association and the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association. He emphasised the importance of taking effective measures to implement the tobacco control law in public transport and instructed bus owners to ensure that their staff comply with the law.

Mr. Islam also made clear that non-compliance would not be tolerated. The meeting decided that if any bus staff member continues to smoke or use tobacco products despite being instructed not to do so, strict administrative action will be taken against the concerned staff member. All bus owners were instructed to take the necessary measures in this regard.

Members of the Dhaka District Bus Owners Association were present at the meeting. Representing Development Activities of Society (DAS), Mr. Moazzem Hossain Tipu, Program Coordinator, and Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad Mukul, Associate Program Coordinator, attended the meeting.

Key Decisions: - Ensure the display of signage in public transport stating: “Please refrain from smoking and using tobacco products; it is a punishable offence.”

- Ensure that all bus staff refrain from smoking and using tobacco products.

- Prevent passengers and other individuals from smoking or using tobacco products inside buses.

- Ensure that bus staff actively perform their responsibilities in preventing smoking and tobacco use.

- Take strict administrative action against any staff member who continues to smoke or use tobacco products despite being instructed not to do so.

- Ensure the active cooperation of bus owners in implementing the Tobacco Control (Amended) Act 2026 in public transport.

The initiative taken by the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association marks an important step toward implementing the Tobacco Control (Amended) Act 2026 in public transport. In particular, the decisions to ensure mandatory signage, prevent bus staff from smoking and using tobacco products, and assign responsibility to staff to prevent tobacco use by passengers are expected to contribute significantly to creating safer and tobacco-free public transport for the people of Dhaka.