RAJSHAHI, Oct 29 (BSS): Women from different professions demanded full implementation of the amended Tobacco Control Act, 2013 to protect many people, especially women and children from passive-smoking.
They viewed women and children are very much vulnerable to indirect smoking and other harmful effects of tobacco in cigarette and bidi factories so there is no way to protect them.
They urged the concerned authorities to implement the Act to protect public health and also expressed their concern over the activities of Tobacco product companies which are creating impediment to formulate the regulation of the current anti-tobacco law.
The observation came at a daylong workshop styled "To protect the women from harmful effects of tobacco uses" held at the seminar hall of Association for Community Development (ACD) in Rajshahi today.
Anti-Tobacco Women's Alliance and ACD jointly organized the workshop in association with Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids where more than 40 women representatives from different districts in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions attended.
Dr Ferdousi Azmal, Divisional Assistant Director (Disease Control), addressed the opening session as chief guest while Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Jakir Hossain and Civil Surgeon Dr Abdus Sobhan spoke as special guests. ACD Executive Director Salima Sarwar chaired the session.
In their keynote presentations, Farida Akhter, President of Anti-Tobacco Women's Alliance, and ACD Programme Coordinator Khandaker Ehsanul Amin, narrated various bad effects of both smoke and smokeless tobacco uses.
Among others, Chief Health Officer of Rajshahi City Corporation Anzuman Ara Begum, District Women Affairs Officer Shahnaj Begum and divisional health education officer Sharifa Begun also spoke.
The discussants commented that according to the current law any advertisement of tobacco products are prohibited but the way sellers decorate their shops, it becomes very easily noticeable that cigarettes are sold here. Authority seems to turn a blind eye over the matter.
Speakers representing different women development organisations who took part in the workshop expressed their concern over the fact that children are being used to sell tobacco products which is a direct blow against the tobacco control law.
