Tobacco claims 57,000 lives every year

Tobacco claimed as many as 57,000 lives and crippled 3.82 lakh in the country every year, according to a written statement issued by Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) Monday, reports BSS

Addressing a press briefing at Dhaka reporters' Unity (DRU), the BATA general secretary Syed Mahbub Alam placed five points demand to reduce tobacco use in the country.

Demanding to raise taxes on tobacco and formulate the tobacco policy, he said women and children are the most affected due to use of tobacco. "81 per cent people of Bangladesh express their voices to raise taxes on tobacco, " he added.

According to the World Health Organisation and Bangladesh Government survey about  Tk 30 billion (Tk 3,000 crore) has been spent for bidi (low cost smoke) per year, he quoted.

The BATA secretary also demanded to realise compensation from tobacco companies, as government hospitals spend huge amount of money for treatment of patients, who used to consume tobacco.