WBB Home

WBB has been involved in efforts to support the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) from early on in the treaty process.  The FCTC--the first global treaty for public health--was negotiated for years in Geneva, and WBB joined in many of those meetings and continually provided the Government of Bangladesh with information about the treaty and the benefits to Bangladesh of signing and ratifying.

Bangladesh was the first country to sign the FCTC, on 16 June 2003, at a World Health Assembly chaired by the Minister of Health of Bangladesh, Dr. Khandaker Musharraf Hossain.

With financial support from the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), WBB worked with the Government of Bangladesh on efforts to ratify the FCTC.  WBB worked with other organizations, journalists, and directly with government officials to convince people of the need for the FCTC and the benefits to Bangladesh of ratification.

The ratification campaign was successful.  Bangladesh was one of the early countries to ratify it, on 14 June 2004.  To see which countries have signed and ratified, visit the WHO website. 

The strong support of WHO's Southeast Asian region for the FCTC promises positive results in the region's battle for health over tobacco.  Meanwhile, Dr. Khandaker won the Tobacco Free World Award from WHO for his efforts to support the FCTC and tobacco control in Bangladesh.