DHAKA, Jan 4, 2020 (BSS) – Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid
Maleque today assured of amending the tobacco control law aiming at
reducing tobacco use in the country.
“With the existing loopholes in the current tobacco control law,
achieving a tobacco free Bangladesh within 2040 as declared by the
Prime Minister will be hampered, he said.
The health minister came up with the remark when delegates from
PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti Tobacco Media Alliance
(ATMA) met him today, a PROGGA press release said.
During the meeting, Zahid Maleque said his ministry is working to
implement the declaration of the prime minister to build a tobacco
free Bangladesh by 2040.
In order to achieve the premier’s commitment, stringent regulations
will be imposed gradually to reduce tobacco use, he said.
The health minister said once there was no use of graphic health
warnings on packages of tobacco products; but it has already been
introduced through an amendment.
“Moreover, previously people used to smoke in public places. It has
also been incorporated under regulations through laws. The current law
is being amended to make it more updated and time-fitting,” he said.
Zahid Maleque assured that the proposals, placed by PROGGA and
ATMA, will be taken into account seriously during the process of
amendment.
During the meeting, PROGGA and ATMA placed some proposals for
amendment in tobacco control law.
The proposals included removing the provision of “designated smoking
zone” and banning smoking in all public places, work spaces, and
public transports to ensure an absolute tobacco free environment;
banning the display of tobacco products at points of sale; banning
‘corporate social responsibility’ activities of tobacco companies;
restricting the sale of single sticks and unpackaged smokeless tobacco
and banning the sale and import of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco
products.
Journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, convener of ATMA Mortuza Haidar
Liton, Co-convener of ATMA Mizan Chowdhury, business in-Charge of
Bangla Tribune Md Shafiqul Islam and head of tobacco control programme
from PROGGA Md Hasan Shahriar were, among others, present.