Concern over violation of tobacco control law

RAJSHAHI, Mar 28 (BSS): Regional members of Anti Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) have expressed their grave concern over gross violation of tobacco control law in Rajshahi region and urged the authorities concerned to take punitive measures to resist the violation.

They put forward the demand at ATMA's Rajshahi regional meeting held at the conference room of Association for Community Development (ACD) in the city Friday.

The anti-tobacco activists viewed the tobacco cultivation has restarted this year in different areas of Bagha Upazila in Rajshahi, Iswardi in Pabna and Lalpur in Natore which is a bad sign for food grain production.

Tobacco products advertisements through packet display at all selling points and unabated marketing of foreign branded cigarettes are taking place everywhere violating the law.

They also mentioned that selling of tobacco products especially cigarettes to the schoolchildren and smoking in public places and transports are continuing.

With ATMA member Mamunur Rashid Babu in the chair, journalists Ziaul Haque, Alamgir Kabir Tota, Mobarak Ali, Akkash Ali, Paritosh Chowdhury Adittya, Sharif Suman, Ahsan Habib Apu and Shahidul Islam spoke on the occasion. ACD Project Coordinator Ehsanul Amin Emon moderated the discussion.

The discussants said tobacco cultivation trend is gradually increasing in the region adjudged as food storage.  Tobacco farming in Rajshahi, Natore and Pabna bears an awful sign towards food grain farming. If the tobacco farming expands more, no more food grain farming will be possible other than only paddy.