special representative

Alfi Shahrin, a youth advocate and former student of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), proudly represented Bangladesh at the South Asia Regional Youth Conference held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The international conference, organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), took place on December 6-7 at the prestigious Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Alfi attended the event as one of 10 youth representatives from Bangladesh.

During the conference, Alfi highlighted the role of her organization, Nari Maitree, in building public awareness and policy advocacy against tobacco use in Bangladesh. She shared her remarkable success story, particularly in tackling the issue of e-cigarettes, and discussed the challenges and limitations she faced. Alfi also shed light on her initiatives and leadership in addressing the critical problem of tobacco use. Through various sessions, she emphasized evidence-based actions, social media strategies, and countering interference from tobacco industries, showcasing her experiences as a youth leader.

At this international platform, Alfi presented Bangladesh’s challenges and achievements in tobacco control and stressed the importance of innovative approaches in policymaking and public health advocacy. The two-day conference concluded with a certificate-awarding ceremony, recognizing the efforts of participants. Alfi along with other representatives, several tobacco control organizations from Bangladesh, including the Dhaka Ahsania Mission, DROP, National Heart Foundation, and Nari Maitree.

Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to represent her country for the first time at such a conference, Alfi said, "Participating in this conference and visiting South Asia’s island nation has been an incredible experience for me. Learning from the tobacco control initiatives of other South Asian countries will help me apply these insights to our anti-tobacco campaigns in the future."

A former student of ULAB, Alfi is currently working as a Media and Communication Officer at the non-governmental organization Nari Maitree. Prior to this, she successfully served as a reporter and program presenter in leading print and electronic media outlets in Bangladesh.