Freedom fighter, singer, author, director, media personality and medical professional Dr. ArupRatan Choudhury hosts weekly health education program in television & radio since 1978 and his TV program “Dhompane Bishpan” (Smoking & poisoning) is popular health program. He is author of 14 books on danger of tobacco, medical and dental issues related to smoking and smokeless tobacco use those distributed in all district public libraries & educational Institutions by the ministry of Education.

Dr. Choudhury engaged prominent film stars, singers, artists & celebrities into one platform on tobacco control movement and founded ‘Madak o Nesha Nirodh Sangstha MANAS) [Association for the prevention Drug abuse]in 1989. MANAS became one of the leading anti-tobacco organizations in Bangladesh for the last 33 years.

MANAS organized regular lectures at the educational institutions with IEC materials and created more than 100 educational institutes smoke free even before the tobacco control law was passed. MANAS has been celebrating World No Tobacco Day since 1989 and involved former president, speaker and whip of parliament, ministers, MPs, national award winner actor-actress and singers. MANAS produced several TV spots, short films, TV shows and a full-length movie (Shorgo theke Norok/Heaven to Hell).

MANAS received “Tobacco or Health Model” from WHO in 1995 and Dr. ArupRatan Choudhury also received the same award in 1998. MANAS contributed very active roles to stop BATs promotional campaign `Voyage of Discovery’ in 1999 and passage of the tobacco control law in 2005.

MANAS president included as a member at National Taskforce for tobacco control and Health Development Surcharge Management Committee under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Advisory Committee on drug control under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

For his outstanding contribution in social work, MANAS president Dr. ArupRatan Choudhury received the National award “EKUSHEY PODOK 2015” from the Honorable Prime Minister. MANAS and its president have good relation with number of MPs, current and former ministers, media and cultural personalities of Bangladesh.3