Doulot Akter Mala, special correspondent of the Financial Express, receiving a 'Progga Tobacco Control Journalism Award' from Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at a function, jointly organised by Progga, a non-government organisation, and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city on Sunday Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Sunday said the government will include texts on harmful effects of tobacco use in the national curriculum in 2020.
He further said the government will also take necessary measures to impose a ban on the sale of tobacco products within 500 metres of educational institutions.
The minister was addressing a function for distributing 'Tobacco Control Journalism Award-2018', jointly organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) with support from Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
The event was arranged marking 'World No Tobacco Day-2018' to be observed on May 31 (Thursday), with the theme 'Tobacco and Heart Disease'.
Addressing the function as the chief guest, Mr Nahid said, "The next year's curriculum has already been finalised; so the lessons about toxic effects of tobacco use will be added to the national curriculum in the year 2020."
He said the initiative will make the students aware of consequences of tobacco use and then they will spread the awareness among the friends and family members.
Founder and president of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh Brig (Rtd) Abdul Malik, who spoke as special guest, said the growing tendency of heart disease among the 30-40 year-old people of the country is really alarming.
He underlined tobacco use as one of the major factors behind the increasing rate of heart disease.
Speakers at the function also said tobacco use is the second leading cause of cardiovascular diseases worldwide.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco use and passive smoking cause around 200,000 deaths due to heart disease every year around the world.
In Bangladesh, tobacco use leads to 30 per cent of all heart disease-related deaths.
Chief reporter of the Daily Sylheter Dak Mohammad Serajul Islam, special correspondent of the Financial Express Doulot Akter Mala and senior reporter of the Daily Kaler Kantho Abul Kashem were awarded for best print/online reporting.
Senior correspondent of ntv ASM Atiqur Rahman was awarded for best television reporting.
Moderated by ATMA co-convener Nadira Kiron, the event was also addressed by director general of Health Services Professor Abul Kalam Azad, ATMA convener Mortuza Haider Liton, PROGGA executive director ABM Zubair, NTCC coordinator Md Khairul Alam Sheikh. Journalist Muzammil Husain was in the chair.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
