Staff Correspondent
At least 12 lakh people are afflicted with different kinds of tobacco related diseases which causes death and disability as well as loss of Tk five crore for medical treatment every year.
This was disclosed at a discussion meeting on ‘Tobacco Control Act and Development’ organised jointly by Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance, Save Environment Movement, “Pratysha”- Anti Drug Club, WBB Trust and Manobik at the National Press Club yesterday.
According to their study report, around 57,000 people aged between 30 and 35 years die due to tobacco related diseases in the country and 3,82,000 people are becoming disabled every year. Speakers at the discussion demanded imposition of ban on all sorts of tobacco related advertisements. Government and non-government officials, NGO and anti-tobacco alliance activists took part in the discussion with Abu Naser Khan, Chairman of Save Environment movement presiding over the discussion.
They also urged the government to enact an effective and result oriented Tobacco Control Act to protect the people from negative impact of tobacco. They said people from all walks of life will have to raise their voices against tobacco products and its advertisement. Otherwise, the country will lose around Tk 2,600 crore every year as many people are going abroad for treatment suffering from different tobacco related chronic diseases.
During the discussion, they made some recommendations including keeping premises of all education and health institutions and terminals of buses, launches and ferries free from smoking and announcing other public places as no smoking zones. In order to reduce the numbers of smokers and discourage them, the government should implement its existing Anti-Tobacco Acts and immediately enact more effective rules to save the young generation from tobacco addiction.
While addressing the meeting, SM Mahbubur Rahman Senior Assistant Secretary to Finance Ministry said on the basis of existing Act, a mobile court led by a magistrate had lodged around 350 cases against several smokers and fined Tk 50 each for smoking in public places. But these cases are not yet sent before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court for trial. If the law enforcers do not cooperate with us how will it be possible to make our mission a success,” he said expressing his grave concern.
He said several monitoring teams led by Cabinet Division and Establishment Ministry will have to be formed at grassroots level to keep the control on tobacco products, he added.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
