RCC vows to enforce tobacco control law strictly

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RAJSHAHI, May 4, 2018 (BSS) – Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) will extend its all possible support towards enforcing the existing tobacco control law.

To this end, the RCC will impose restriction on selling of tobacco products and smoking in all public places.

City Mayor Mosaddique Hossain Bulbul revealed this while addressing an advocacy meeting styled “Amendments in Smoking Control Guideline and Necessity of Separate Trade License for Tobacco Products” at RCC conference hall here yesterday.

Mayor Bulbul said the city corporation is pledged bound to build a healthy city through substantial and sustainable controlling of tobacco products in public and working places and public transports.

“We will impose restriction on open selling of tobacco products and smoking, selling of bidi and cigarettes to under age people, illegal displaying of advertisement and eviction of shops of tobacco products in fronts of educational institutions, the mayor asserted.

Association for Community Development (ACD) organized the meeting with support of Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids (CTFK) and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Chaired by RCC Ward Councilor Momtaj Mohal Laily, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Chief Revenue Officer Shahan Akhter and Chief Health Officer Dr AFM Anjuman Ara Begum.

During his keynote presentation, Shariful Islam, Advocacy Officer of ACD, said around 57,000 people die and nearly 12 lakh people become disabled every year in the country due to tobacco-related diseases.

He expressed concern that tobacco companies are expanding their market promotional activities in the name of corporate social responsibilities, which must be resisted.

Dr Anjuman Ara Begum said uses of tobacco items cause many non- communicable diseases like cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis and chronic respiratory disease.