Dhaka WASA Commits to Tobacco-Free Workplace Initiatives

• Dhaka WASA has pledged to enforce smoke- and tobacco-free environments across all its offices in compliance with the amended 2026 Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act.
• The organization will collaborate with the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) to install warning signage and conduct ongoing staff awareness campaigns.

Tobacco Impact in Bangladesh

• According to the 2017 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), approximately 37.8 million Bangladeshi adults use tobacco products.
• Roughly 38.4 million adults are exposed to secondhand smoke, with 42.7 percent of indoor workplace exposure reported.
• Tobacco-related illnesses cause approximately 200,000 premature deaths annually in the country.
• The economic burden of tobacco use in Bangladesh, including healthcare costs and lost productivity, is estimated at Tk 870 billion per year.

Policy and Enforcement

• Officials emphasized that the move aligns with broader governmental goals to protect future generations from nicotine harm.
• The initiative aims to serve as a model for both public and private sector organizations in Bangladesh to strengthen institutional tobacco control.