Bangabhaban declared smoking-free zone

Declaring Bangabhaban a smoking-free zone president Zillur Rahman has called for keeping all government offices and educational institutions free from smoking.
“Smoking is very bad habit,” he told a delegation of noted physicians, led by national professor Brig Gen (retd) Dr Abdul Malek that called on him at Bangabhaban yesterday.
The president said tobacco causes various lethal diseases – heart attack, high blood pressure, cancers and pancreatic. All government offices and educational institutions should be free from smoking for avoiding perilous diseases.
During the meeting, the delegation leader Dr Malek proposed to form a forum naming ‘United Forum Against Tobacco’ comprising all doctors’ associations to resist smoking allover Bangladesh with president Zillur Rahman as the chief patron of the forum.
The president accepted the proposal and mentioned that all staffs of Bangabhaban should be kept away from smoking, saying that if some one is found smoking would have to face departmental punishment. “Smoking is a social problem and it inspires people to many other bad practices.”
Presently tobacco cultivation is increasing in many areas of the country.
Prof Malek emphasised the need for further strengthening anti-tobacco law with higher amount of fine for violation.
The delegation apprised the president that smoking is strictly prohibited in Bhutan. Bangladesh government could follow this good instance for the country.
“The farmers can be encouraged to grow cash crops alternative to tobacco,” he said.
The government earns a revenue of Tk 5000 crore as cigar tax but it spends some Tk 11,000 crore for treatment of the people affected by smoking related diseases.
The noted cardiologist also mentioned that all sorts of tobacco, particularly chewing tobacco leaves are responsible for 90 per cent of lung cancer.
The delegation suggested raising tax on tobacco related products, creating awareness among school children, incorporating articles of tobacco impacts in curricula for keeping the young generation away from smoking.
The delegation included Prof Dr RK Khondakher, vice president of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, Dr Sirajul Islam, joint secretary of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, Prof Dr Mollah Obaiyedullah Baki, president of Bangladesh Cancer Society, Prof Dr Sheikh Golam Mostafa, joint secretary of Bangladesh Cancer Society, associate professor of community medicine Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury, Prof Asif Mostafa Mahmud, treasurer of Bangladesh Lung Foundation, Prof Dr MA Jalil, secretary for Science Affairs of Bangladesh Society of Medicine and Dr AKM Mosharraf Hossain, general secretary of Association of Physicians of Bangladesh.

Courtesy of UNB via The Independent