Eleven member countries Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, North Korea and East Timur who ratified the WTO-FCTC 2003 convention are participating in the meeting.

Addressing the inaugural session, Secretary to health and family welfare ministry A K M Zafar Ullah Khan said the meeting is aimed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of individual member countries in adopting comprehensive tobacco control measures and their implementation as well."

Focusing on the fatal aspects of tobacco consumption, Director of Tobacco Free Initiative-WHO Dr Yumiko Mochizuki said to stop globalisation of tobacco consumption and resulting explosion of tobacco related diseases, the member countries should adopt practical approaches.

While reading out a message from WHO Regional Director for South East Asia Region Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO representative in Dhaka said WHO is ready to extend necessary assistance to enhance the capacity of the member states in adopting national policy on tobacco control and its implementation.

Health Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said though a number of countries have developed comprehensive tobacco control measures but effective enforcement still remains a major challenge.

He also spoke of Bangladesh's advancement in this field.