Tobacco control act must be executed properly: Speakers

RAJSHAHI, Aug 28 (BSS): Speakers at an advocacy meeting in Rajshahi unequivocally called for proper enforcement of the amended tobacco control law to free the public health from various non-contagious diseases caused by tobacco uses.

They viewed gross violation of the prevailing Tobacco Control Act continues at the restricted areas including public places threatening public health almost everywhere.

There is no alternative to free the public transports and public places from smoking to protect the non-smokers from passive smoking. Frequent and indiscriminate smoking in the public places and transports affect the non-smokers more than that of the direct smokers, they defined.

District Taskforce Committee to Control Smoking and Tobacco Products and Association for Community Development (ACD) jointly organized the meeting titled "Enforcement of Smoking and Tobacco Control Law" held at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday.

With Dr Dewan Shahriar Firoj, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) in the chair, Civil Surgeon Dr Abdus Sobhan, Panel Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation Nurun Nahar Begum, Deputy Director of Islamic Foundation Monirul Islam and Deputy Director of Department of Youth Development Motiur Rahman spoke on the occasion,

In his concept paper presentation, Enhasul Amin Emon, Program Coordinator of ACD, narrated various demerits of smocking and uses of other tobacco products. He said imposing restriction on smoking in public places and transports is very important for protecting many non-smokers from various chronic diseases caused by smoking.