RANGPUR, Oct 18, 2018 (BSS) – Government officials and experts at an
advocacy meeting have stressed on institutionalisation of enforcement of the
tobacco control laws for saving public health from tobacco catastrophe.
They put special emphasis on strict enforcement of the Smoking and Tobacco
Products Usage (Control) Act and related policies to save thousands of human
lives in the country from tobacco attributed deadly diseases.
They made these observations at the meeting organised by Lalmonirhat
District Tobacco Control Laws Implementation Task Force Committee at
conference room of the Deputy Commissioner in Lalmonirhat district town on
Wednesday afternoon.
Human rights organisation Association for Community Development (ACD)
extended assistance in arranging the event under its Support for
Institutionalisation of Enforcement of Tobacco Control laws in Rajshahi and
Rangpur Divisions programme.
Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat Md Shafiul Arif presided over the
meeting.
Civil Surgeon of Lalmonirhat Dr Kashem Ali, Deputy Director of the
Department of Agriculture Extension Bidhu Bhushan Roy, representative of
Bangladesh Medical Association Dr Nabiur Rahman and Senior Health Education
Officer Md Alauddin spoke.
Project Coordinator of ACD Ehsanul Amin Emon delivered presentation on
‘Role of the task force committee and authorised officials in implementation
of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act and related
policies.’
He shared information based on recent survey conducted by ACD at different
areas on slower enforcement pace and violation of tobacco control laws by
different tobacco companies in the region.
He alleged that many tobacco companies were marketing tobacco products
without or partially exhibiting mandatory pictorial winnings on packets and
conducting publicity of tobacco products openly violating tobacco control
laws.
“The authorities concerned conduct mobile courts in inadequate frequencies
as a result of which the tobacco control laws are not being implemented
strictly,” he said adding that smoking in public places were still continuing
in many areas.
Dr Kashem Ali stressed on strengthening activities of the district task
force committee for strict enforcement of the laws concerned to reduce use of
tobacco products for saving public health human lives.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the authorities concerned for strict
enforcement of the tobacco control laws and conducting more mobile courts to
stop violation of the laws and reduce usages of tobacco products for greater
national interests.