PRESS RELEASE: The Ministry of Health has taken initiative to amend the existing tobacco control law of Bangladesh to make it more compact and up-to-date. The law will be amended as soon as possible to make the country tobacco-free by 2040 and protect public health, said Hossain Ali Khondoker, coordinator (additional secretary) of the National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC).
He made the remarks at a meeting at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute here on Saturday (July 18).
Speaking as the chief guest at the meeting, Hossain Ali Khondoker said that in order to make tobacco-free Bangladesh for the future generation by 2040, it is necessary to amend the tobacco control law and finalize the national tobacco control program very soon.
At the meeting, the activists of the anti-tobacco organization argued in favor of amending the tobacco control law. They say the existing law is largely in line with the WHO’s FCTC, but there are weaknesses in some areas. As a result, the main purpose, curbing tobacco use is not fulfilled properly. Therefore, in order to strengthen tobacco control, it is necessary to amend the existing tobacco control laws as soon as possible.
Professor Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, gave a welcome address at the meeting. He said more than 126,000 people die of various tobacco-related diseases in Bangladesh every year. It is possible to prevent this premature death by reducing tobacco use. Therefore, he emphasized on strengthening the tobacco control law by amending it.
The current tobacco control laws that need to be amended include: 100% ban on tobacco use in all public transport and public places, ban on display of tobacco products in stores, ban on CSR of tobacco companies, ban on import, production, sale and use of e-cigarettes, Determining the size of packaging of tobacco products and prohibiting retail sale of tobacco products.
Among others Hasan Shahriar, coordinator of Tobacco Control Program of PROGGA, Mostafizur Rahman, Lead Policy Advisor, CTFK spoke at the meeting.
NEWS FROM Mahamud Setu. Media Manager, Anti-tobacco Program. National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh. #
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