Every year a number of people suffer illness and many die due to tobacco related diseases in Bangladesh. Economic detriment is also high to face medical expenses. Considering the harms of tobacco consumption, like every year, the World No Tobacco Day has brought new dimension of campaign message which is-?Stop illicit tobacco trade?. On the eve of this day, SERAC-Bangladesh, APACT Youth Action Network-AYAN, and Bangladesh Anti-tobacco Alliance have jointly organized a rally in front of National Press Club in Dhaka on May 31. The rally was led by SERAC-Bangladesh?s Executive Director & President of AYAN S M Shaikat. Others including AYAN?s country coordinator Sahadat Hossain, SERAC-Bangladesh?s Asst. Program Officer Munsafa Tripti, Jisan Mahmud, Abdus Sobhan Juel, Mamun Ripon, Journalist Ratan Kumar Das and other youth activists attended the rally. The rally ended at Osmani Milanayoton.

Beside this, SERAC-Bangladesh along with the district health department, administration, municipality, and Natab organized another rally in Mymensingh which was followed by a discussion meeting at civil surgeon?s office in the city. Speakers at the meeting told that, 43.3% adult population in the country consume tobacco. Again, every year 1.2 million people become ill due to tobacco related diseases, 57000 die and 382000 become paralyzed for tobacco consumption every year in Bangladesh. Considering this alarming situation, illicit tobacco trade must be stopped to save public health.

The meeting was addressed by district Civil Surgeon Dr. AKM Mostafa Kamal, Additional District Magistrate Mallika Khatun, Additional Police Super Abu Ahammad Al Mamun, Senior Health Education Officer Abdul Goni, SERAC-Bangladesh?s Program Manager Md. Oli Ahad, Natab representative Md. Amirul and many local organizations.