Message from PROGGA-Knowledge for Progress Bangladesh

The South Asian region is such a region where the crucial social and political factors of the countries are almost indistinguishable. The transnational death traders plaguing these countries are also the same. In this circumstances, any tobacco control initiative that restrains itself within the margins of a national boundary is bound to fail. Similarly, any oversight or negligence of one country in tobacco control will certainly impact that the neighboring countries in near future. Strengthening implementation of FCTC Article 5.3 in an organized and unified manner under a regional observatory is very crucial to protect Tobacco Control measures from vested interest of tobacco industry. Considering all these, I want to express most sincere wishes to the SARC-CCT to have a profound impact in tobacco control of this region.

Md. Hasan Shahriar
Head of Tobacco Control Program and Director
PROGGA-Knowledge for Progress
Bangladesh