Call for strict implementation of amended tobacco act

FE Team | Published: November 02, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

RANGPUR, Nov 1 (BSS): Speakers at a post-leaflet campaign discussion here have underscored the need for strict implementation of the amended Tobacco Control Act (TCA) to discourage consumption of tobacco products for saving human lives.
They termed Bangladesh as one of the biggest tobacco consuming country with still minimum prices of tobacco products and expressed concern over the fact that every sixth adult person is dying here from tobacco related diseases.
They were addressing a post leaflet distribution discussion meeting arranged in observance of the National Tobacco Free Day-2014 at Rangapur Shahittya Parisat auditorium in the city on Tuesday afternoon.
Self-help and Advancement Development Organisation (SHADO), Development Organisation for Rehabilitation Programme (DORP), Unique Jubo Unnayan Sangstha (UJUS), Association for Community Development (ACD) and Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance and other rights-based organisations jointly organised the programmes.
Presided over by President of Rangpur Protibondhi Foundation Akbar Hossain, teachers and students, socio-cultural and political activists, civil society members, professionals, community leaders and local elite participated in the discussion.
Executive Director of SHADO Sarwar Jamil Khandker, Executive Director of DORP SM Meraj Uddin, Executive Director of UJUS Azaharul Islam, Member of Rangpur unit of ADAB Ahsan Habib Rabu, General Secretary of Rangpur Patro Lekhok Parishad Rezaul Karim Jiban, took part in the discussion.
The speakers said 46 million people are now using tobacco products in Bangladesh where 43 percent of adult people including 58 percent male and 29 percent female and also 13 percent adolescents consuming cigarettes, bidi, smokeless or other tobacco products.
Over 60,000 people are dying consuming tobacco products annually and 1.2 million suffering from lung cancer, cerebra- vascular, coronary artery, and chronic obstructive pulmonary and other tobacco-attributable diseases in the country.
They called for creating mass public awareness against tobacco and tobacco-related killer diseases to reduce consumption of tobacco products with an ultimate goal of banning cultivation of tobacco production and use of all tobacco products in the country.
They stressed for strict implementation of the amended TCA, increasing prices and imposing higher taxes on tobacco products as tobacco use has become a grievous concern as the younger generations have been consuming those at higher rates.