YPSA has been implementing a project on “Promoting smoke free local Government and Public spaces in Chittagong Division” with the assistance from CFTFK and Bloomberg Initiatives since April 2009. The aim of the project is to promote smoke free local government and public spaces within Chittagong Division, by advocating for smoke free policies and practice at City Corporation and Municipal level as a preventive and regulatory mechanism in compliance with National Smoking and Tobacco control Act 2005
The project is being implemented in 4 Districts such as Chittagong City Corporation, Cox Bazaar, Comilla and Feni targeting an estimate of 5 million people working in local government institutions and public spaces.
The project is being implemented in partnership with local governments and it seeks to helps mobilise the local agencies and other partners to work together to control the tobacco epidemic, particularly through the formulation and implementation of smoke free policies at the local government and public spaces under their jurisdiction.
Under the project YPSA has been conducted several discussion, meeting, orientation workshop with different stakeholders like Mayor, Councillors, journalists, civil society, teachers, NGOs, CBOs, religious leaders, social workers, transport authorities, market authorities, health institutions, lawyers and Government officials. As a result of YPSA’s continuous efforts and contact with Cox’s Bazar Municipalities, Mayor of Cox’s Bazar municipality has officially declared smoke free Municipality office premise and published a circulation. This is a great step towards creating a Smoke free local government. YPSA is expressing its heartiest gratitude and grateful to Cox’s Bazar Municipality especially Mr. Sarwar Kamal, Mayor, all councillors and Mr. Fakir Mohammad Munawar Hossain, Chief Executive of Cox’s Bazar Municipality.
