Speakers at a seminar in Rajshahi on Monday called for protecting the non-smokers from passive smoking through creating a smoking-free environment everywhere in society.
The law against smoking in public spots should be strictly implemented to free all the public places and transport from smoking.
The Consumer Association of Bangladesh and the Action for Community Development jointly organised the seminar at a community centre in the city as a part of their two-day anti-tobacco programme.
With ACD executive director Salima Sarwar in the chair, the programme was also attended by Rajshahi-6 (Bagha-Charghat) constituency lawmaker Shahriar Alam as chief guest.
The speakers called for ensuring tobacco-free atmosphere for sustainable improvement in public health and environment.
In this regard, they said people in general and the children in particular were suffering from different respiratory problems because of indiscriminate smoking in public places including court premises and public transports.
Stressing the need for making the Tobacco Control Law more effective in the light of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, they said the public places and transport must be made smoking-free.
Rajshahi Medical College vice-principal in his keynote informed that more than 57,000 people die of tobacco-related diseases and 3,82,000 are affected with various chronic diseases every year due to use of tobacco and smoking.
The programme was addressed, among others, by women lawmaker of Chapainawabganj Showkot Ara, Rajshahi Medical College vice-principal Daem Uddin, additional commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Moniruzzaman, CAB Rajshahi chapter president Kazi Giash and general secretary Mamunur Rashid.
-With New Age input
