Every year, 67% of the country’s total deaths are due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mainly due to the use of tobacco products. Realizing this harmful effect of tobacco, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced to make Bangladesh tobacco-free by 2040.
‘Bangladesh Parliamentary Forum for Health and Wellbeing is a forum related to public health formed by members of parliament, working to achieve tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 as the Prime Minister declared. The forum wants to work at all levels to achieve the national goal.
These issues came up during a discussion meeting with the journalists on April 2, Saturday at the Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) on ‘Tobacco Control Activities to Achieve Tobacco-Free Bangladesh by 2040’.
Former State Minister for Home Affairs and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Md. Shamsul Haque Tuku MP was present as the Chief Guest on the occasion. National Press Club President Mr. Farida Yasmin and Adiba Anjum Mita MP were present as special guests. The meeting was presided over by Prof. Dr. Md. Habibe Millat MP.
Md. Shamsul Haque Tuku MP said that ‘‘Hon’ble Prime Minister is committed to protecting the public health of the country’s people, which leads to the declaration of making Bangladesh tobacco-free by 2040.’
‘Tobacco-free Bangladesh should be built by 2018 and 2040. There are gaps in tobacco control laws. People including women, children, and students are all being harmed due to smoking. But this could not be solved only through government and administration. The law should be amended as well as the media should step in. We are also very vocal about increasing taxes and the price of tobacco products.’
Adiba Anjum Mita MP said, ‘We have to introduce more anti-tobacco activities in our country. Numbers of families have lost everything due to the harmful effect of tobacco. Tobacco is the main cause of lung cancer, oral cancer, etc. To prevent that amending of tobacco control law and taxation is the utmost priority now.’
Around 3 crores 78 lakh adults in the country use one or another tobacco product. About 61,000 children a year are infected with tobacco-related diseases without smoking. 1 lakh 61 thousand people die every year due to tobacco-related diseases. Realizing the awfulness of tobacco, the Prime Minister has announced to make the country tobacco-free by 2040.
Earlier, Dr. Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director of Shastho Shurokkha Foundation and Public Health Specialist presented the important aspects of amending the Tobacco Act. His presentation mentioned that it is necessary to add some issues by amending the existing tobacco control laws.
Chairman of the forum Prof. Dr. Md. Habibe Millat MP highlighted the various successes of the forum in tobacco control. He said, ‘Members of Parliament are carrying out various activities for the protection of public health through Bangladesh Parliamentary Forum for Health and Wellbeing. In its continuation, we are working on tobacco control on behalf of the forum. Along with 153 Members of Parliament, we have requested the Hon’ble Prime Minister to issue a DO letter to amend the Tobacco Act, including e-cigarettes. We all want to take this activity forward and make Bangladesh tobacco-free.’
Along with these, the president and general secretary of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Mr. Nazrul Islam Mithu, Nurul Islam Hasib, Director of Shastho Shurokkha Foundation Mr. Rafiqul Islam, Advisor of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Mr. Ataur Rahman Maud and other delegates from numbers of the organization took part.
, mainly due to the use of tobacco products...){kind=link}