DHAKA, June 19, 2019 (BSS) – World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) will be observed
tomorrow in the country highlighting health risks of tobacco consumption and
effective policies to reduce its use.
Every year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and global partners
observe World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on 31 May. But this year, the country
will celebrate the Day tomorrow.
The annual campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness on the harmful and
deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure and to
discourage the use of tobacco in any form.
The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2019 is on “Tobacco and Lung Health.”
The campaign will increase awareness mainly on the negative impact of
tobacco on lung health from cancer to chronic respiratory disease.
The slogan of the Day is, ‘Don’t Let Tobacco: Take Your Breath Away.
Choose Health Not Tobacco’.
Health and Family Welfare Ministry today organised a press briefing on
observing the day in befitting manner at conference room of the ministry at
Secretariat here where Joint Secretary M Khairul Alam Sheikh briefed at the
event.
Additional Secretary (Development) Babul Kumar Saha and Additional
Secretary M Saidur Rahman were present, among others.
Emphasizing on creating awareness to prevent tobacco consumption, M
Khairul Alam Sheikh urged the authorities concerned to execute the laws and
regulations properly to this end.
Over 70 lakh people die every year due to tobacco consumption and more
than nine lakh people affected by passive smoking, he said.
“The government amended Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act,
2005 in 2013 and formulated Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control)
Rule, 2015,” he said, adding that one percent surcharge has been imposed on
the selling price of tobacco products from 2014-15.
M Khairul Alam also said it is under the government’s consideration to
increase tax on tobacco and make the tax infrastructure easier.
National Tobacco Control Cell Health Services Division, WHO, different
government and non government organisations have taken several initiatives to
observe the Day.
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.