Experts tell seminar
Smoking related diseases account for death almost five times more than people killed in road accidents every year, said speakers at a seminar yesterday.
Urging to stop smoking at public places, they said 12,000 people, on an average, die in road accidents while 57,000 people die due to diseases caused by smoking.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Bangladesh Tamak Birodhi Jote and WBB Trust, jointly organised the seminar on “The necessity for keeping public transport smoking free and steps in this regard” held at BRTA office in the capital.
Professor Pran Gopal Datta, vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), said six lakh people die due to smoking in the world every year while one billion people smoke across the world.
He added almost half of the world’s children and women are victim of passive smoking as a result of indiscriminate smoking by smokers in public spaces and transports.
In Bangladesh, just 1.5 percent women smoke where 60 percent women are being victimised of passive smoking at public transports and places and 21 percent at their work places, said speakers.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner (DMP) Benazir Ahmed said easy availability of tobacco related products including cigarettes and biri are a barrier for reducing the number of smokers.
He said the trend can be strapped up if government impose tax on tobacco cultivation.
Environmentalist Abu Naser Khan said drivers of public transports should be empowered to realise fine from passengers if they smoke in transports.
BRTA Chairman Aiubur Rahman said packs of cigarettes are widely being used for bribing officials. Cigarette also works as a gateway for drugs, he added.
Speakers also suggested BRTA making stickers bearing anti drug messages for public transports mandatory to obtain fitness certificates. They also urged the drivers to refrain from smoking.
Aiubur Rahman, chairman of BTRC, Mozammel Huq Khan, secretary of communication ministry and Tapan Kumar, director of BRTA spoke at the seminar.
