National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh

On 29th September 2015, National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh and United Forum Against Tobacco (UFAT) jointly organized an awareness seminar to observe World Heart Day 2015. Mr. Mohammad Nasim, MP, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh grace the occasion as chief guest. Representative of World Health Organization, Country Office for Bangladesh was present as special guest. National Professor Brig. (Rtd.) Abdul Malik presided over the program and Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury presented the key-note presentation. Tobacco control issue was focused as one of the main risk factors of heart diseases. For strengthening tobacco control in Bangladesh, the importance of developing a national tobacco control policy was discussed in the program and few recommendations were submitted before honorable minister. In the speech, honorable minister mentioned about the importance of tobacco control in every aspect. He also declared that, from the next year, the applicants of Medical Admission Test have to submit the certificate as s/he is non-smoker. Electronic and print media has made big coverage regarding this program and BBC has taken an interview of Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury.