Project Name: Strengthening advocacy for a comprehensive amendment of Tobacco Control Law and increase tobacco tax.

Project Introduction:
The proposed project ‘’Strengthening advocacy for a comprehensive amendment of Tobacco Control Law and increase tobacco tax’ is continuation of “Mainstreaming the Tobacco Control Law for sustainable implementation and countering TI tactics & advocacy for tobacco tax policy reform” “Advocacy for mainstreaming, sustainable implementation of Tobacco Control Law & increasing tobacco tax and campaign against TI tactics”, “Advocacy for Comprehensive Implementation of Tobacco Control Law in Dhaka City”, “A Step towards Smoke-free Dhaka City” and “Advocacy for law amendment especially, remove of DSA, TAPS Ban at POS, ban e-cigarettes and strengthen its implementation” project which has implemented by DAM over the last 10 years. The proposed project has focused on advocacy with government and campaign engaging policymakers and relevant stakeholders to support TC law amendment specially to incorporate provisions in the TC law to ban DSA, product display at POS, single sticks sale and E-cigarette’s ban. Moreover, advocacy with policy makers and influencer to support increasing tax and price on tobacco products in FY 2022-23. To support TC law amendment and increase tobacco tax and price, a comprehensive media campaign will also run through the project.

Project ID: Bangladesh 29-29

Project Goal: The Policy Makers, influencers and govt. authorities are sensitized and mobilized to ban DSA, product display at POS, single sticks sale and E-cigarettes ban through TC law amendment and to support increasing tax and price on tobacco products in FY 2022-23.

Specific Objectives: Objective 1: To run a campaign engaging policymakers and relevant stakeholders to support TC law amendment specially to incorporate provisions in the TC law to ban DSA, product display at POS, single sticks sale and E-cigarettes ban by 2022. Objective 2: To engage policymakers and influencers to support increasing tax and price on tobacco products in FY 2022-23. Objective 3: To run a comprehensive media campaign to support TC law amendment and increase tobacco tax and price. Etc.

Outputs: Focused Ministries, Policy Makers, retailers’ authorities and the hospitality sector will be sensitized and mobilized to support remove DSA, ban display of tobacco products at POS and raised their voice for necessary amendment of the Law. They will also take various initiatives in this regards; like-send request letter to the policy makers, human chain, social media campaign, discussion with relevant ministries etc. The RSA will be conducted and disseminated with relevant stakeholders including journalists. A factsheet will be disseminating on RSA findings of E-Cigarette. Journalists will be mobilized and conduct investigation reports against E-cig and display of tobacco products at POS. DSCC & DNCC will allocate budget for the FY 2022-23 and use the budget for tobacco control initiatives. Parliament Members will be sensitized and support to increase tobacco products price and its tax and the price will increase. Mass people will be aware through online live discussion programs, social media campaign and a good number of media stories will be published in different media

Major Activities: Activity 1.1.1: Update the mapping of the stakeholders/policy makers and sensitize about comprehensive amendment of Tobacco Control Law: To update the stakeholders/policy makers mapping periodically, DAM will analyze and prepare individuals short biography with the contact details, Social Media link and information about posts/activities, media value, positions for tobacco control etc. and mobilize them (one to one, inviting in various programs, using in media campaign etc.) for raising their voice for comprehensive amendment of Tobacco Control Law.
Activity 1.1.2: Organize small group meeting with relevant ministries (Health ministry, law, cabinet, public administration, MoCAT, Commerce, Agriculture, Industries, etc.) who are included in the law amendment committee: DAM will conduct small group meeting with relevant ministries who are involved in the law amendment committee. Small group meetings with relevant ministry high officials including secretary and minister to sensitize them so that they support law amendment proposal in the cabinet meetings. (All meetings will be close door, so press release may not be possible for every sitting.)Activity

1.1.3: One to one meeting with ministers including Health Minister and MPs, to mobilize them in favor of law amendment proposals: DAM will conduct several one-to-one advocacy meetings, visit with Ministers, policy makers and MPs for mobilizing them in favor of the law amendment issue for creating the as influential one and ultimately champion.DAM will also create New Champions and engage them including existing champions by raising their voice and playing role as advocates for comprehensive amendment of Tobacco Control Law.

Activity 1.1.4 Follow-up advocacy meeting with BROA, Bangladesh Porjotan Corporation, Bangladesh International Hotels Association and other relevant stakeholders (BIHA, hospitality sector association Hotel, Motel and Guest House Federation etc.)to develop a strategy for supporting and raising voice about removing DSA at hospitality sector through amending the TC Law: DAM will organize a meeting with Bangladesh Restaurant Owner Association (BROA), Bangladesh Porjotan Corporation, Bangladesh International Hotels Association (BIHA), Hotel, Motel and Guest House Federation, other relevant stakeholders and mobilize them to raise their voice and take necessary initiatives for removing DSA at hospitality sector through  developing a strategy for amending the TC Law. Also, a press release will be prepared and disseminated with at least 50 media houses for publishing and following up after sending the press release.

Activity 1.1.5: Small group follow-up meetings with retailer associations: DAM will organize small group follow-up meetings with retailer association to mobilize them in favor of TC law amendment issues specially for banning display of tobacco products at POS, sales of single stick & banning E.cig.
Activity 1.1.6: Sensitization meeting with retailer associations about Law amendment for banning display of tobacco products at POS, sales of single stick & banning E.cig (combined meeting): DAM will conduct meeting with retailers’ associations about Law amendment for banning display of tobacco products at POS &single sticks sales and banning E.cig. DAM will also conduct one to one advocacy with the association members in this regard.

Activity 1.1.7: Continuous follow-up with LGD, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and BRTA for the implementation of LG common guideline and Tobacco Control Law (No cost activities): DAM will continue follow-up with LGD, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation and BRTA for implementation of LG Guideline and the TC Law.

Activity 2.1.1 Organize small group meetings with finance minister, NBR chairman (2 meetings).
DAM will organize two small group meetings with policy makers and relevant Ministry-finance minister and NBR Chairman for making them sensitize for imposing higher tax on tobacco products. (All meetings will be close door, so press release may not be possible for every sitting.)

Activity 2.1.2 One to one advocacy with policy makers and relevant Ministries/NBR Officials for increasing tobacco tax with a simple tax structure: DAM will conduct several one-to-one advocacies with policy makers and relevant Ministries for increasing tobacco tax with a simple tax structure and rejecting the interference of TIs.

Activity 2.1.3 Demonstration/Solidarity with the issue for increasing tobacco tax and price (Public Support Campaign): DAM will organize a demonstration and Solidarity gathering engaging activists and actors in the field of anti-tobacco community for the issue for increasing tobacco tax and price.

Activity 2.1.4 Undertake month long campaign on tobacco taxation: DAM will undertake month long campaign on tobacco taxation through publishing article/story in various media, letter campaign, and handover memorandum, develop templates with MPs quotes, generate media reports on MPs reaction and meeting with journalists etc.

Activity 3.1.1 Press Conference on the amendment of the TC Law and increase tobacco tax and price: DAM will conduct press conference on comprehensive TC Law amendment and increasing tobacco tax and price for getting attention of policy makers and relevant ministry.

Activity 3.1.2: Publish articles/OP-EDs/Special Reports on necessity of law amendment and increasing tobacco tax and price: DAM will continue the advocacy with journalists/policy leaders/retailer’s associations/academician for publishing articles/reports on TC law amendment issue (highlighting removal of DSA, banning display of tobacco products at POS and banning sales of single stick and banning e-cig) and increase tobacco tax and price issues in print and online media.

Activity 3.1.3: Knowledge sharing and sensitizing meetings with various journalist forums (ATJFB and ERF) on comprehensive amendment of the TC Law and tobacco taxation issues: DAM will conduct Knowledge sharing meetings with various journalist forums (ATJFB and ERF) on comprehensive amendment of the TC Law and tobacco taxation issues.

Activity 3.1.4: Organize Journalists Fellowship Program for Electronic Media (TV) by providing award on 04 in-depth and comprehensive reports on TC law amendment issue and increasing tobacco tax and price: DAM will conduct a journalist fellowship program (for electronic media) and mobilize and trained them for publishing reports about banning e-cig, tobacco product display, single sticks sales and removal of DSA by amendment of the TC Law and increasing tobacco tax and price. 04 journalists will be awarded for top four in-depth/investigation/exclusive and comprehensive reports for generating more evidence which will support to law amendment and increasing tobacco tax and price.

Activity 3.1.5: Organize Journalists Fellowship Program for Print and Online Media by providing award on 04 in-depth and comprehensive reports on TC law amendment issue and increasing tobacco tax and price: DAM will conduct a journalist fellowship program (for print and online media) and mobilize and trained them for publishing reports about banning e-cig, tobacco product display, single sticks sales and removal of DSA by amendment of the TC Law and increasing tobacco tax and price. 04 journalists will be awarded for top four in-depth/investigation/exclusive and comprehensive reports for generating more evidence which will support to law amendment and increasing tobacco tax and price.

Activity 3.1.6: Posting various video clips, event news, write up/ blog, pictures and other tobacco control program related information in the Face book, twitter, Integra, YouTube, tumbler, and LinkedIn, etc and boost the some catchy social media contents: DAM will post various video clips, event news, write up/ blog, pictures and other tobacco control program related information in the Face book, twitter, Instagram, YouTube, tumbler, and LinkedIn, etc. for increasing mass awareness against tobacco and tobacco products. Social media boost will be done by various contents.

Project Duration: 01 November ’21 to 31 October’22

Financial partner (Donor): Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

Implementing partner (if any): project Location/s and number of Field offices:  National and Sub-National (Dhaka City)

Project Budget: $ 75,000/-

Number of project staffs and volunteers:

Contact Person: Md. Shariful Islam, Project Coordinator, Tobacco Control Project,
Email: shaifulislam@amic.org.bd, Cell: 01746260060