Currently, the rate of smoking is increasing alarmingly among the younger generation. According to a study, 35 per cent of youths in Bangladesh between the ages of 15 and 24 are smokers, with a smoking rate of 50.6 per cent among males and 14.8 per cent among females.
A 2022 study reported that the smoking rate among adults in Bangladesh is 28.6 per cent, with 47.7 per cent among men and 8.7 per cent among women. The death rate due to smoking is increasing day by day, with around 160,000 people dying every year in Bangladesh, according to a 2021 study. Among them, the death rate due to smoking is 20.8 per cent among men and 0.9 per cent among women.
There are several reasons for the increase in smoking among the younger generation, including propaganda and persuasion. Awareness among them about the ill effects of smoking is low, and smokers are attracting young people to smoke through various advertising and persuasive techniques.
Many young people become interested in smoking after seeing their friends or family members smoke, or as a means to relieve stress or emotional turmoil. Smoking is highly harmful to health, causing various diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and lung disease. It is crucial to raise awareness among the young generation about these ill effects and take effective steps to prevent them from smoking.
To prevent the young generation from smoking, measures must be taken, such as raising awareness about the ill effects of smoking and enforcing anti-smoking laws strictly. Anti-smoking social movements can also increase awareness about smoking among the youth. Additionally, the non-smoking example set by family and friends can inspire young people to refrain from smoking.
Morshed Mahbub,
Student, Department of Marketing,
Dhaka University