Chittagong City, population 4 million, is Bangladesh’s second largest city. It has an active network of tobacco control advocacy organizations that work closely with local government to advance the tobacco control agenda. In 2010, this advocacy work helped lead the Chittagong City government to enact a ban on all tobacco advertising, including advertising indirectly through surrogates and brand extensions such as lighters featuring cigarette brands. Although there is an existing national ban on tobacco billboard advertising, the law does not explicitly cover indirect advertising, point-of-sale marketing, or other promotional activities, and overall enforcement is suboptimal.

The Chittagong City regulations expand and strengthen the national law by banning all tobacco billboard advertising and creating a clear mechanism for enforcement. All tobacco billboard advertising was removed immediately upon passage of the law, and other forms of advertising including at the point of sale were eliminated shortly thereafter. Tobacco control advocacy groups continue to work with local government agencies to ensure effective enforcement of the ban.

http://www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/2011/en/