IPU President Saber Chowdhury is the proud recipient of this year’s World No Tobacco Day award. The award, given by the World Health Organization (WHO), recognizes Mr. Chowdhury's contribution to tobacco control at the local, national, regional and international levels.
Mr. Chowdhury has been at the forefront of efforts to make his country, Bangladesh, tobacco-free by 2040. His advocacy work has had a strong impact both at the grassroots/constituency and national levels in his country. As President of the IPU, he has been successful in placing the issue on the organization’s agenda, having convened in 2016 the South Asian Speakers’ Summit that discussed tobacco control.
Upon hearing the news of the award, Mr. Chowdhury reiterated his long-term commitment to curbing tobacco use and its negative health consequences. He encouraged his parliamentary colleagues and other partners to join him in this noble ambition.
