Recent Activites Details

 

Summary of the Projects

 

Dhaka International University (DIU) is one of the leading, familiar and note-worthy private universities in Bangladesh which was established on 7th April 1995. It is a non-profitable institution having strict academic discipline. This university was founded by Late Alhaj Professor Dr. A. B. M. Mafizul Islam Patwari, Former Chairman of the Department of Law, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is recognized that Dhaka International University is such a private university, which was founded by a person who was a renowned humanist and academician. He established this university with high hopes and aspirations to disseminate knowledge and thus to extend the horizon of knowledge.

The mission of DIU is to produce capable leaders in the respective field of study who can meet the challenges of present dynamic world. It wants to create multidisciplinary knowledge, communication and interpersonal skills at the highest level of excellence among the students which will make them honest, sincere and dedicated in their thoughts and deeds.

The vision of this university is ‘to see an educated and healthy generation’. To meet successfully with the vision and mission, the university has established 5 research cells, teachers and students can easily exercise their research work with the cells. Tobacco control and Research Cell is one of the active research Cell, continuously working on tobacco control and public health issues for making healthy Bangladesh. DIU has successfully completed three projects with the financial assistance of Bloomberg initiative and technical support by The UNION.

First Project

The university completed the First project (Bangladesh-OC-403) from 1st May 2016 on “Policy advocacy for effective implementation of Graphic Health Warnings on tobacco products in Bangladesh”.

The major activities and outcomes of first projects were-

 

1. Conduct base line survey
2. Create a voluntary group (engaging students and teachers)- 3000 Youth members
3. Policy advocacy meeting with different ministry, NTCC, NBR, DNCRP, BSTI and DG Health
4. TCRC team has able to issued three govt. order- by Director General, Customs Intelligence & Investigation Directorate (CIID), Director General of Health Service and Directorate of National Consumers Rights and Protection (DNCRP) to take legal action against the violation of GHW provision in their regular market monitoring.
5. Organized Seminars, workshops and conferences
6. Conducted research that are published in the Journal of Dhaka International University
7. Compliance Monitoring for Pictorial Warnings-(3 phase- covered 50 Districts)
8. Organized Press Conference for disseminating the monitoring outcomes (3 Press Conference)

After successfully completed and achieved the project objectives, country representatives of The Union encouraged for submitting newer one.

 

Second Project

Later on they approve the submission and again the university successfully completed the 2nd project (Bangladesh-21-23) on “Strengthen implementation of Graphic Health Warnings and increase the size of GHW on tobacco products in Bangladesh through advocacy, capacity building and monitoring” from 1st September 2017.

Several strategies followed to achieve the project objectives that were- Policy and follow-up meetings, Sensitization workshop/meeting were conducted with different stake holders.

 Major objectives of the projects were -

•  Building capacity of enforcement officials;
• Increase the size of GHWs
• Introducing uniform packaging;
• Monitoring & Reporting the implementation;

 

The team was creating a data base of Stakeholders, One to One Meetings with different Stakeholders have been conducted in every week, and 8 Divisional Workshops also been conducted that covering all 64 Districts for Sensitizing and Engaging Local Administration for Building capacity of effective implementation.  An assessment survey has been conducted for preparing the recommendation for increasing the size of GHWs, and continues policy meetings with Law Makers for getting policy support. For Introducing Standard packaging model, an assessment survey has been conducted, the teams also select the model packets for standard packaging that submit for effective implementation.  For Monitoring the implementation, the team Developed GHWs Monitoring Software on the basis of section 10 of TC law & Monitor the implementation quarterly basis (8 quarter) that cover all 64 districts. The team organized 8 Press Conferences to disseminate the monitoring outcomes and submit violation report to related authority for legal action. 

 

 Major Activities and Achievements

• Present the research in more than 10 international conferences.
• Published  6 research in Scopus approve journals.
• Able to identified the tax evasion and recommended the government through NBR haw they can reduce tax evasion (Story has circulated by Jamuna Television and different news papers).
• Tax collection has increased.
• Able to find-out the market and distribution policy of smokeless tobacco.
• Students and teachers engaged in research activities.
• Collect data from all 64 districts and sub-districts.
• Identified 264 Big Wholesale markets.
• Raise linkage with international community through participating seminars, workshops and conferences.
• Institute of Global Tobacco Control, Bloomberg Institute of Public Health, John Hopkins University are closely working with the university.

 

 

Third Project

As outcomes of the success of the previous projects, the necessity of a newer idea got acknowledge consecutively they encouraged to apply new project.  Project Title: Sensitize Government to finalize the Increasing GHWs decision, enact standard packaging and strengthen GHWs implementation, reduce tax evasion through compliance monitoring and reporting.

 

Major Activities and Outcomes:

 

The consistent initiatives, seminar and workshops by Tobacco Control and research Cell (TCRC) resulted into the formation of standard packaging model for bidi and SLT, that got approved by the tobacco control activists, experts and advocates. Whereas the research conducted by the TCRC on increasing pictorial warnings, the campaign on enhancing tobacco taxation and initiatives for banning e- cigarettes- all received applause from the civil society due to its innovative nature in terms of rising awareness among Member of Parliaments, bureaucrats and mass people. The President of TCRC, Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP delivered speeches on the importance of issue of increasing GHW of tobacco pack, banning e-cigarettes, enhancing tax on all sorts of tobacco products, while emphasizing the introduction of standardized packets in the assembly of National Parliament of Bangladesh. The seminar organized by TCRC on standard packaging model managed to grab attention and acceptance by a number of MPs and former minister that standard packaging is an effective mechanism in the pathway of towards reduction of tobacco consumption. They emphasized upon spreading this concept among others as well.

 

National Board of Revenue was made convinced for monitoring the smokeless tobacco product distribution hub so that the tax evasion can be reduced, through live talk show and several other workshops by TCRC. Research study was being conducted on the jorda tax evasion issues as well including organization of several workshops, research findings dissemination events and seminars on tax evasion perspectives by the tobacco companies. TCRC conducted compliance monitoring on taxation, pricing and GHWs implementation throughout entire Bangladesh and the compliance monitoring report was with government bodies and tobacco control advocates. A report including lists of all tobacco products, producers, distribution channels and companies committing tax evasion was submitted to Member (Vat) by TCRC while he was sensitized on taking legal actions. 6 MPs were convinced upon working on tobacco tax issues and in the next budget sessions, they spoke in favor of tobacco tax enhancement in the National Parliament.

 

TCRC successfully organized a live talk show including youth and youngsters that focused on the threat and negative impacts of e- cigarettes. This talk show included Member of Parliament, Oncologist, senior tobacco control activist. The talk show turned into a awareness raising mechanism. The Facebook campaign and discussion event counterparts of the live talk show played the comprehensive tool for building a mass uprising. Deputy Speaker of National Parliament calls to promulgate special ordinance against e-cigarette. Barrister Shameem Patwary, MP, President of TCRC raised the issues of increasing tobacco tax, banning e- cigarettes while urging for an effective taxation plan in parliament. More than 163 MPs gave their policy support for banning sales of e-cigarettes. At the same time, the researches conducted by TCRC titled “Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS): Threats for Youth, Challenges and Way Forward” and Impact on Graphic Health Warnings Implementation to Quit Smoking among Low Income Population in Dhaka City” and dissemination of the researches played the eye- opener for may tobacco control activists. Barrister Shameem Patwary, MP, President of TCRC raised the issues of increasing tobacco tax, banning e- cigarettes while urging for an effective taxation plan in parliament.

 

 

Forth Project (Current)

As outcomes of the success of the previous projects, the necessity of a newer idea got acknowledge consecutively they encouraged to apply new project. Later on Bloomberg Initiative announce call for proposal of Round 30 on July 2021 and we submit the application then on 17 September 2021, we have received a confirmation letter to submit full proposal. Finally on 26 November 2021, we have received a final confirmation latter and 30th April 2022, the university signed an agreement with The Union.

• Project Title: Assist government to introduce large pictorial warnings and to generate evidence for standard packaging & for banning emerging tobacco products through monitoring and reporting.
• Project ID: Bangladesh-30-04

• Project Duration: Duration: 2 Year (May 2022- April 2024)                                   
• Total Budget: $ 1,12,695 USD (BDT-94,66,380)
• Date of Agreement: 30 April 2022
• Funded by: Michael R. Bloomberg through his foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, USA and managed by The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases
• Project Staff

Name	Designation (DIU)	Project Designation	Duration of Work
Md. Bazlur Rahman	Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration	Project Director	60%
Farhana Zaman	Research Assistant	Program Manager	100%
Md. Mohiuddin	Research Assistant	Project Officer	100%
Bappa Raj Das	Junior Officer	Office Assistant	40%
Swarnil Mandal	Junior Officer (Accounts)	Accountant	40%

 

 

Budget Distribution:

Particulars	Year-1	Year-2	Total
Staffing Costs	$25,488	$25,932	$51,420
Operational Costs	$22,825	$27,750	$50,575
Equipment Costs	$800	$0	$800
Administrative Costs	$4,200	$5,700	$9,900
Total Budget	$53,313	$59,382	$1,12,695

 

 

 

Objectives and Activities:

 

Objective 1: To assist the government in the development, adoption and implementation of standard packaging for tobacco products.

 

• Mapping of all relevant stakeholders.
• Prepare a policy brief on implementation of standard packaging.
• Conduct round table meetings with all stakeholders for getting policy supports.
• Organize seminar including representatives from Ministry of Law, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate General of Health Services, Tobacco Control Community and Civil Society jointly with national Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC).

 

Objective 2: To gather evidence for supporting the government for prohibition of novel products, like ENDS/ENNDS.

 

• Generate evidence on banning emerging tobacco products in Bangladesh in light of global trend.
• Develop strategic guidelines and organize meetings with stakeholders including BATA members to implement the decision on banning ENDs.
• Conduct press briefing for generate public awareness about harms of emerging tobacco products.
• Conduct round table meeting with high level committees of Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance and National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) for knowledge sharing
• Continue one to one follow-up meeting with representatives and officials from Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance and National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC), Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Finance, NBR,  Ministry of Home, BTRC,

 

 

Objective 3: To monitor and evaluate GHW law compliance and to assist the government in implementing larger pictorial warnings.

 

• Update the monitoring software as per law for measuring the compliance.
• Monitor the compliance of current GHW provision with GHWs monitoring app in all divisions of Bangladesh.
• Arrange press conference to disseminate the outcomes of compliance monitoring.
• Conduct a study for identifying the FCTC compliance globally and changes of pictorial warnings to create a strong foundation for policy briefing
• Organize a roundtable discussion meeting with standing committee on Law, Health and Family Welfare, ministry delegates of relevant ministry, civil society and media personnel for getting policy support and for collaborative approach to increase pictorial warnings.
• Collaborate with international community for sharing experience regarding the challenges and way forward on tobacco control movement in Bangladesh.

 

 

Objective 4: To monitor and produce evidence of tobacco control law violations and tax evasion in order to sensitize tobacco control taskforces for improve enforcement that will support National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP).

 

• Conduct the study in divisional headquarters for identifying the violation of tobacco control law
• Sensitizing workshops/ seminars (with showing the violation-experience from previous projects and current project) will be organized with Enforcement officials and districts taskforce committee for taking legal action against the violation.
• Conduct a study to identify how smokeless tobacco violate to pay the tax and to make a model to protect tax evasion.
• Develop and submit the model of digital tax tracking and tracing system that will support to protect tax evasion.

 

 

 

Expected Policy Outcomes:

This project will help to strengthen the government to take initiative for protecting public health; support National Board of Revenue (NBR) to reduce tobacco tax evasion; support government to make effective implementation of tobacco control Law especially pictorial warnings. The project will help to identify the violation of tobacco control law and possible way to protect the violation. Students and teachers will be able to buildup the research knowledge as they will participating the seminars, workshops and community based works. The team will get opportunity to participate and present the research in international arena.