RANGPUR, July 30, 2019 (BSS) – Combined efforts of officials, law enforcement agencies, teachers, NGOs and civil society members are crucial to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 as envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The observations came today at a view-sharing cum action plan meeting organised by the District Tobacco Control Laws Implementation Task Force Committee at conference room of the Deputy Commissioner in the city.
Association for Community Development (ACD) extended assistance in arranging the meeting titled “Implementation of a tobacco-free Rangpur city” in cooperation with Campaign for Tobacco- Free Kids and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Additional District Magistrate Md. Arafat Rahman as the chief guest attended the event moderated by Program Manager of ACD Shahinur Rahman.
Advocacy Officer of ACD Shariful Islam Shameem delivered multimedia presentation narrating negative impacts of consumption of tobacco products and violation of tobacco control laws by some tobacco companies.
He put special emphasis on strict enforcement of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, Amended Tobacco Control Act and related policies and conducting mobile courts frequently for enforcement of the tobacco control laws.
Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Dr. Kaniz Sabiha, Deputy Director of the Department of Women Affairs Kawser Pervin, Assistant District Education Officer Shahreena Dilruba, Assistant Director of Islamic Foundation Shamsul Haque, District Sanitary Inspector Mahbubur Rahman, among others, addressed.
Dr. Sabiha suggested for strengthening coordination among all authorities concerned to ensure strict enforcement of the tobacco control laws to reduce consumption of tobacco products for saving public health.
The chief guest stressed on combined efforts of all concerned for strict enforcement of the tobacco control laws to gradually reduce consumption of tobacco products to the zero level on way to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 next.