Trapped by Tobacco: The Industry’s Grip and Our Responsibility

Fahmida Farzana PDF Version Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year. To make up these “lost consumers”, the industry goes after the youth as their next target. Today’s young people are the next generation of “lifelong customers”, and most tobacco users start smoking before they become adults. Over time, tobacco companies’ tactics to
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Between Progress and Pitfalls: Fixing Bangladesh’s Urban Health Crisis

 By Abdullah M. Rafi (published in The Business Standard on 15 May, 2025) Bangladesh, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world according to the World Bank, has identified health as both a priority and a persistent challenge. Article 15(a) of the country’s constitution reflects this commitment by guaranteeing healthcare as a fundamental right for
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দেশের ৪২.৭ শতাংশ জনগোষ্ঠী পরোক্ষ ধুমাপানের শিকার

Originally published in The Daily Kaler Kantho on February 07, 2025. Read the full report here.
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Experts urge policy reforms to strengthen urban health systems in Bangladesh

  Health policymakers, researchers, and development partners gathered in Dhaka to discuss challenges and prospects for urban health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The policy dialogue, titled Strengthening Urban Health Systems: Prospects & Challenges, was organized by ARK Foundation Bangladesh and BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health on Thursday (30 January 2025).
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Policy Dialogue on Strengthening Urban Health Systems: Prospects & Challenges

  The Community-led Responsive and Effective Urban Health System (CHORUS) is a Research Programme Consortium that brings together health researchers from Africa, South Asia, and the UK. CHORUS collaborates with communities, health professionals, and city-level decision makers to develop and test strategies for improving the health of the poorest urban residents. As part of its
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ARK Hosts CHORUS Partners Meeting in Dhaka

The CHORUS Partners Meeting, hosted by ARK, took place from January 26th to 29th at Hotel Lake Castle in Dhaka, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and experts from Bangladesh, Nepal, Ghana, Nigeria, and the UK. The event focused on sharing insights and strategies for strengthening urban health systems across the participating countries. Discussions explored early findings,
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Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance in Urban Bangladesh |Journey Of Arts4amr|

  To raise awareness about the dangers of #antimicrobialresistance (AMR) among local communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh, artists and researchers have joined forces, using street plays as a powerful medium to convey their message. This innovative collaboration marks one of the first initiatives where artists actively engage with communities to address the growing threat of AMR
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Roundtable on Universal Health Coverage in Bangladesh: Challenges & Opportunities

  On the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the ARK Foundation, a roundtable discussion titled “Universal Healthcare in Bangladesh: Challenges and Opportunities” was organized by the ARK Foundation and Prothom Alo on 30 November 2024. To read the summary of the speakers’ speeches, please go to this link or find the PDF here আর্ক ফাউন্ডেশনের ১১
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Fighting TB on the Frontlines: Voices from the Ground

Mr. Mahmud (pseudonym), 59, the Tuberculosis & Leprosy Controller Assistant (TLCA) at one of the TB centers on the outskirts – a 70-kilometer drive from the capital Dhaka – reflecting on his journey in combating TB, asserted that if people stopped using tobacco products, the number of TB cases in his area could have been
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Role of Youth in Fight Against Air Pollution

By Fahmida Farzana and Abdullah M. Rafi AMID the lingering haze over Bangladesh’s cities, air pollution has become an escalating public health crisis. From brick kilns to traffic congestion, harmful pollutants seep into every aspect of urban life, making this not just a climate issue but a matter of human survival. These fine particulate matters
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