In celebration of World No Tobacco Day 2025, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office was honored with a national award for its exceptional efforts in tobacco control.
The award recognized the office’s initiative to declare all District Commissioners’ office premises in Dhaka Division as 100% smoke-free, ensuring a healthier and tobacco-free environment for all employees.
The prestigious award was presented during a ceremony hosted by National Tobacco Control Cell at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
Md. Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury, Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka, received the accolade on behalf of the office.
In his address, Commissioner Chowdhury expressed his gratitude for the guidance and support of National Professor Brigadier (Retd.) Abdul Malik, founder of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, who has been a key partner in tobacco control efforts since 2015.
“This recognition is a great source of encouragement. We remain committed to safeguarding non-smokers and have removed all designated smoking areas from our office premises,” he said.
The award follows a series of proactive measures introduced earlier this year. On March 20, a consultation meeting was held at Divisional Commissioner’s Office, where various stakeholders discussed strategies to create a completely smoke-free office environment.
As a result, an official directive was issued on April 8, mandating that all District Commissioners’ offices in Dhaka Division be smoke-free. The implementation involved the installation of clear signage and the removal of any existing smoking zones within office buildings.
At the event, other entities were also acknowledged for their efforts in tobacco control. Rajbari District Administration and Shibpur Upazila Administration in Narsingdi were recognized in district and upazila categories for their own initiatives.
Earlier in the day, a rally and public gathering were held to mark World No Tobacco Day, with this year’s theme, “Expose Tobacco Industry Tactics, Build a Tobacco- and Nicotine-Free Bangladesh.”
The gathering was chaired by Health Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman, with Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum serving as Chief Guest. Other notable attendees included Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Railways Secretary Fahimul Islam, and DGHS Director General Professor Dr. Abu Zafar.
The recognition of Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office highlights the growing momentum toward creating tobacco-free public spaces in Bangladesh, inspiring other government institutions to follow suit in the fight against tobacco use.
