The National Kick-off Workshop was held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at CSS Ava Center, 82 Rupsha Stand Road, Notun Bazar, Khulna-1100, Bangladesh, as part of the “Integration of Tobacco Cessation Services in Bangladesh through Technical Support, Stakeholder Capacity Building, and Monitoring and Evaluation” project, organized by the Department of Public Health and Informatics of Bangladesh Medical University, with the aim of integrating tobacco cessation services with the health system in an effective and sustainable manner. Sheikh Momena Moni, Additional Secretary, Global Health Division, Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was present as the chief guest at the event. Professor Syed Akram Hossain, Chairman, Department of Clinical Oncology, Bangladesh Medical University, presided over the event.

The workshop was moderated by Dr. Farzana Islam, Health Systems and Policy Specialist and Medical Officer, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University. At the end of the introductory part of the program, Professor Dr. Md. Atiqul Haque, Project Lead, Chairman, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University, delivered the welcome speech. Dr. Taslima Chowdhury, Project Coordinator, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University presented the project objectives, strategic plan and future activities. In addition, a draft of the strategic plan was presented for detailed discussion on the next activities at the field level in Khulna Division. After the presentation, an open discussion session was held, where the participating health department officials gave their opinions in light of the healthcare infrastructure and practical experience at the field level in their respective districts and made recommendations on the selection of master trainers and training structure for implementing tobacco cessation services from the district to the grassroots level. The honored participants in the discussion gave their respective opinions in the discussion in light of their respective work experience and reality. Chief guest Sheikh Momena Moni mentioned that despite significant progress in tobacco control in Bangladesh, huge economic losses are being incurred every year due to tobacco-related diseases. She called for strengthening school-college-based awareness programs to prevent tobacco addiction, especially among children and adolescents, and said that the Ministry of Health is committed to implementing evidence-based initiatives to protect public health. She expressed hope that through the joint efforts of all stakeholders, it will be possible to build a healthy and tobacco-free Bangladesh by expanding effective tobacco cessation services. Professor Syed Akram Hossain said in his speech that the political commitment of the current government has created an important opportunity to strengthen tobacco control activities in Bangladesh. He mentioned that planning and implementation at the local level along with national policies are very important to reduce the incidence of tobacco-related diseases and cancer. To this end, he emphasized the coordinated cooperation of the Ministry of Health, development partners and all relevant stakeholders to make this initiative led by Bangladesh Medical University a success and declared the workshop closed with his closing speech. Dr. S.K. Md. Mosharraf Hossain, Divisional Director (Health), Khulna said that effective monitoring system is very important in improving the quality of healthcare. He stressed on further expansion of such initiatives and expressed hope that through regular monitoring and coordinated efforts, the quality of healthcare will further improve and the people will get more effective and quality services. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Joint Secretary, Health Services Department and Director General, National Tobacco Control Council (NTCC), said that in the future too, with the sincere cooperation and active participation of this dedicated team of Bangladesh Medical University, all programs will be successfully implemented and with joint efforts, it will be possible to ensure better healthcare for the people of the country. Md. Mamunur Rashid, Joint Secretary, World Health Organization Division, Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said in his speech that Khulna Division has been selected to implement this project considering various indicators, capacity and implementation possibilities. They expressed hope that if this initiative is successfully implemented in Khulna, it will be possible to expand it to other divisions of the country and the national program for tobacco control and prevention of non-communicable diseases will be further strengthened. The workshop was attended by Deputy Director (Health), Khulna, Civil Surgeons of Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jessore, Jhenaidah, Magura, Narail, Kushtia, Chuadangons and Deherpur districts and their representatives, Assistant Director (Disease Control); Assistant Director (Medical Sub-Depot), Assistant Prodhan, (MIS) and Upazila Health and Family Welfare Officers of Phultala, Karra, Paikgachha, Dakop, Dighlia (Khulna), Mongla (Bagerhat), Abhaynagar, Keshabpur, Bagharpara (Jessore) and Lohagara (Narail) Upazila Health Complexes and their representatives. Syed Zakir Hossain, Professor of Medicine, and OSD, former Line Director, Directorate of Health; Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Chowdhury, Head of Department, Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute; Dr. Selim Mahmud Chowdhury, Project Technical Consultant, Center for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB); Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Haque, Public Health Specialist; Dr. A. S. M. Ishtiaq, Program Officer, and Asif Ahmed, Program Officer (Khulna), World Health Organization; Dr. Sajeeb Roy, Program Officer, National Tobacco Control Cell, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Dr. Md. Maruf Haque Khan, Assistant Professor and Director, Center for NCD Research, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University; Dr. Shahidul Haque, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University Dr. Orna Chowdhury, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University Dr. Jobeda Chowdhury, Research Associate, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University: Dr. Mukta Das, Research Assistant, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University. Media workers and other concerned officials of the Health Department of Khulna Division.