Boost monitoring on tobacco control law

Speakers at a policy dialogue on Sunday focused on strengthening monitoring system to ensure proper compliance of tobacco control law for the sake of public health.
Anti-tobacco media alliance and Progga jointly arranged the policy dialogue at National Press Club in the city.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP (Dhaka-9), attended the dialogue as the chief guest, where three other lawmakers - Dr Habibe Millat (Sirajganj-2), Abul Kalam Md Ahsanul Huq Chowdhury (Rangpur-2) and Md Nabi Newaz (Jhinaidah-3) - were also present.
In the programme, experts and policymakers discussed ways on checking illegal campaign of tobacco items and commercial activities of tobacco companies as well as ensuring proper compliance of the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC)
Technical officer (tobacco control) of World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Mahfuzul Huq, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) country director Taifu Rahman, and former coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) Amin-ul-Ahsan, among others spoke on the occasion.
Md Hassan Shahriar, coordinator of Progga, presented the keynote paper at the programme.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP assured of placing the tobacco tax-related proposals before the parliament for consideration in the upcoming budget.
He said a national tobacco control policy is needed to thwart supply and consumption of tobacco.
Dr Mahfuzul Huq said the government can spend its earning, worth Tk 3.0 to 4.0 billion as health development surcharge, on tobacco control and for enforcement of anti-tobacco law.
The CTFK country director said the tobacco companies are death-seller, so the government should check them by framing effective laws.
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