Concern over random violation of tobacco control law
Friday, 11 July 2014
RAJSHAHI, July 10 (BSS): Speakers at a discussion here today have expressed grave concern over gross violation of tobacco control law in the region and urged the authorities to take punitive measures to resist the violation.
They categorically said that frequent and indiscriminate smoking in the public places and transports affects the non-smokers more than the direct smokers. So, there should be a strong civil society to stop this practice.
Association for Community Development (ACD) and Tobacco Control Coalition jointly organized the work plan formulation meeting at ACD conference room in the city.
Panel Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Nurun Nahar Begum addressed the discussion as the chief guest while President of Rajshahi Press Club Anwarul Alam and RCC Councilors Mustaque Hossain Ratan, Muslima Begum Belly and Nasira Khanom spoke as special guests. ACD Programme Coordinator Ehsanul Amin chaired the discussion.
The speakers viewed that tobacco cultivation that restarted this year in different areas of Bagha Upazila in Rajshahi, Iswardi in Pabna and Lalpur in Natore is a bad sign for food grain production.
Tobacco products advertisements at all selling points and unabated marketing of foreign cigarettes are clear violation of the law.
They also mentioned that selling of tobacco products especially cigarettes to the schoolchildren and smoking in public places and transports are continuing unchecked.
The discussants said tobacco cultivation tendency is gradually increasing in the region. Tobacco farming in Rajshahi, Natore and Pabna bears an awful sign towards grain farming. If the tobacco farming expands more, no more grain cultivation other than paddy will be possible.
They alleged that some tobacco companies are expanding their market promotional activities in the name of corporate social responsibilities, which must be resisted.
In this context, the discussants said the tobacco control law was enacted in May, 2013 but its enforcement is not visible as yet and so violation of the law is taking place randomly.
College teacher Abdullah Al Mamun, schoolteacher Asit Shaha, politician Abul Kalam Azad and Divisional Coordinator of BELA Tonmoy Sanyal took part in the open discussion, among others.