Speakers for collective efforts to enforce tobacco control law

RAJSHAHI, Dec 8 (BSS): There is no alternative to enforce the tobacco control law to protect the young generation from bad effect of smoking and other tobacco products, speakers at a participatory discussion here said yesterday.
They mentioned that time has come to stop all sorts of tobacco promotion related advertisements, publicity and patronage to supplement the efforts of implementing the law.
The observations came at a divisional level workshop titled "Enforcement of Tobacco Control Law" held at the conference hall of Divisional Director of Health. National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) and Divisional Director of Health Office jointly organised the workshop in association with International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division Helaluddin Ahmed and Deputy Commissioner Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury addressed the discussion as chief and special guests respectively with Dr Hedayetul Islam, Divisional Director of Health, in the chair.
NTCC Coordinator Amin Ul Ahsan, Deputy Commissioner (Headquarter) of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Tanveer Haider Chowdhury, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Momtazul Haque, President of Rajshahi Press Club Anwarul Alam and Programme Coordinator of Association for Community Development Ehsanul Amin Emon also spoke.
The discussants viewed utmost emphasis should be given on freeing the public places and transports from smoking. There is no alternative to conduct mobile courts frequently to enforce the law of tobacco control in those places properly.
Besides, coordination among the key stakeholders, awareness building and capacity development and law enforcement particularly mobile court operation could be the vital strategies for effective implementation of the law, they added.
During her concept paper presentation, Sharifa Khatun, Divisional Health Education Officer, said full-length enforcement of the tobacco control law has become an urgent need.
The main attraction of the landmark law is that it bans all sorts of tobacco advertisements at the point of sale and sponsorships of the industries. The law also bans the selling of cigarettes to those below 18.
All concerned especially the retailers and other vendors concerned should abide by the law of the tobacco control to protect the public health from bad effect of both smoke and smokeless tobacco products.
Taking part in the open discussion some other participating officials and stakeholders said the government should stop any kind of promotion for tobacco cultivation. It is more important than policies to reduce tobacco.
At the same time, the government should undertake projects to develop alternative livelihoods for the tobacco farmers, they opined.