DHAKA, May 30, 2018 (BSS) – World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) will be observed
tomorrow in the country as elsewhere across the world highlighting the health
and additional risks associated with tobacco uses, and advocating for
effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.
This year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day 2018 is “Tobacco Attacks Heart:
Stay away, Save Lives”.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate
messages on the eve of the day and called upon all to stop use of tobacco and
tobacco-based products for the sake of public health and national economy.
In his message the President said, “Tobacco smoking is harmful to health.
One of the main reasons behind all the preventable diseases in the world is
tobacco. One person dies in every six seconds in diseases like cancer, heart
ailments, stroke, diabetes and asthma caused by tobacco. People also lose
their ability to work because of tobacco.”
Narrating the present government’s stance about tobacco use, President
Abdul Hamid said it gives greatest priority to public health and that is why
the government in 2013 amended Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control)
Act, 2005, and in 2015, formulated the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage
(Control) Rule, 2015.
“Now pictorial warnings are being published on both sides of every tobacco
packets. Smoking has been declared illegal in all the public places and
public transports to save non-smokers from passive smoking. Selling to or
buying tobacco products from children have been banned completely,” the
President said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message reminded formulation of
sustainable development goals, giving importance to control of non-
communicable diseases and effective implementation of UN Framework Convention
on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
“Importance is being given worldwide in tackling diseases like cancer,
heart ailments, stroke, diabetes and asthma, by reducing use of tobacco.
World Health Organization has formulated FCTC in this regard,” she said.
“Awami league government in 2013 amended Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage
(Control) Act, 2005, and formulated Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage
(Control) Rule, 2015. We imposed 1% surcharge on the selling price of tobacco
products from 2014-15. We also approved The Health Development Surcharge
Management Policy-2017 to use money collected as surcharge in controlling
tobacco,” the premier said.
The prime minister also said it is under government’s consideration to
increase tax on tobacco and make the tax infrastructure easier.
Meanwhile, different non-government organisations (NGO) and socio-cultural
bodies will also organise separate programmes to raise mass awareness against
tobacco consumption.
The national newspapers will publish special supplements while Bangladesh
Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private TV channels will air special
programmes highlighting the harmful effects of tobacco use.