India, Jan. 29 -- The Department of Cooperatives has been officially declared a 100 percent smoke and tobacco-free institution.

The announcement was made by Mohammad Hafizul Haider Chowdhury, Additional Registrar (Administration, Mass Education and Finance), on Thursday at the Titas Conference Hall of the Department of Cooperatives.

The declaration came during a consultative meeting titled "Declaring All Offices of the Department of Cooperatives as 100% Smoke and Tobacco-Free", jointly organized by the Department of Cooperatives and the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor-DORP, as part of efforts to achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh.

In his remarks as chair, he stated that the declaration was made in accordance with Section 4, S...