RAJSHAHI, June 26, 2020 (BSS)- Substantial and sustainable sensitising the grassroots people have become an urgent need for successful implementation of the Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) Act for protecting many people from various non-infectious diseases caused by the tobacco products uses every year.
Effective steps should be taken to develop awareness among the commoners who resort to smoking in public places, including offices, court areas, hospitals and market places.
High officials came up with the observation while taking part in a virtual meeting titled “Implementation of the Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) Act and Way forward” in Rajshahi amid the present COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday. Commissioner’s office of Rajshahi division and National Tobacco Control Cell jointly organized the seminar with Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir Khandaker in the chair. Deputy Inspector General of Police AKM Hafiz Akter, Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Hamidul Haque, Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Humayun Kabir, Divisional Director of Health Dr Gopendra Nath Acharya, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Shahidullah and Additional Director of Department of Narcotics Control Zafrullah Kazal joined the meeting.
During his keynote presentation, Additional Commissioner Jakir Hossain narrated various demerits of smoking and use of other smokeless tobacco products. Imposing restrictions on smoking in public places and transports is very important for protecting many non-smokers from various non-communicable diseases caused by smoking. Use of tobacco items causes many non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis and chronic respiratory disorder, the speakers mentioned in the programme. Some tobacco companies are expanding their market through promotional activities in the name of corporate social responsibility, which must be stopped, he added. In his remarks, Commissioner Humayun Kabir Khandaker underlined the need for enforcement of the amended tobacco control law to free the public health from various non-contagious diseases caused by tobacco uses.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared that the country would be freed from tobacco uses by 2040. He added that all sorts of necessary measures would be taken to make the premier’s announcement a total success in the division.
He urged the additional district magistrates to conduct mobile courts for effective implementation of graphic health warnings on all tobacco products for successful implementation of the existing tobacco control law.