ZCZC
BSS-55
NO-TOBACCO-DAY
World No Tobacco Day observed
DHAKA, May 31, 2020 (BSS) – The World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) was observed today in the country as elsewhere in the world, highlighting health and additional risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to cut tobacco consumption.
This year’s theme of the day is ‘Tamak Company-er Kutchal Rukhey Daw- Tamak o Nicotine Theke Tarun der Bachaw (resist evil design of tobacco companies- save the youth from tobacco and nicotine)’.
Marking the day, the taskforce committee to implement the Tobacco Control laws organized a discussion at Barguna deputy commissioner (DC) office today.
Barguna DC Mustain Billah presided over the discussion while Civil Surgeon Dr Humayun Shahin Khan and Barguna Press Club President Advocate Sanjib Das took part in the discussion, among others.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on Saturday marking the day.
The national newspapers published special supplements while Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private TV channels aired special programmes highlighting the adverse impacts of tobacco for marking the day.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and it kills nearly nine million people every year worldwide.
It claims 1.6 million lives in the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) alone as the region is amongst the largest producers and consumers of tobacco products.
According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)-2017, in Bangladesh 35.3 percent people are using tobacco products. According to Global Youth Tobacco Survey-2013, 52.3 percent students noticed tobacco promotions at point of sales.
Tobacco is a major risk factor for all the main noncommunicable diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases and diabetes mellitus.
BSS/SAH/KU/2020hrs