RANGPUR, Nov 19, 2019 (BSS) – The district administration will take steps to strictly enforce the tobacco control laws for stopping violation of the laws and illegal advertisement of tobacco products.
This was revealed by Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan today at a views-exchange meeting on ‘Stopping violation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 and its proper enforcement’ held at his conference room with the executive magistrates.
The district administration organised the meeting in association with Association for Community Development (ACD) under cooperation of the Campaign for Tobacco- Free Kids (CTFK) and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC-Revenue) Sharif Muhammad Foyzul Islam, ADC (General) Syed Enamul Kabir, Additional District Magistrate Md. Arafat Rahman, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Kaniz Sabiha, Sanitary Inspector of Rangpur City Corporation Abdul Kaiyum, Grants Manager of CTFK Abdus Salam Mian addressed the meeting moderated by Media Manager of ACD Amjad Hossain Shimul.
Programme Officer of ACD Shahinur Rahman made a presentation on violation of tobacco control laws by some tobacco companies and discussed negative impacts of consumption of tobacco products.
He focused on conducting mobile courts frequently, issuing letters to authorities concerned to ensure their legal obligation, hanging precautionary notices and signage at public places for strict enforcement of tobacco control laws to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 as envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Dr. Sabiha stressed the need for strengthening coordination among authorities concerned to stop violation of tobacco control laws and conduct motivational works to reduce consumption of tobacco products to save teenage youths and public health.
The chief guest said necessary steps would be taken so that none could smoke in public places across the district and remove illegal advertisements of tobacco products from everywhere.
“We have already issued public notice to stop smoking at all public places, sent notices to the companies concerned for removing their illegal advertisements,” he said adding that more steps will be taken for strict enforcement of tobacco control laws in the district.
He laid special emphasis on engaging combined efforts to ensure strict enforcement of tobacco control laws to gradually reduce consumption of tobacco products to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 next.