Urgent control of tobacco cultivation is need which is a threat to food security and devastating for public health and the environment. In this case, Ministry of Agriculture can play the vital role. Ministry of Agriculture is taking various forms to achieve the country's food-sufficiency program. However, there is risk of food shortages due to population growth and the decrease  amount of productive agricultural land. It is not expected to Ministry of Agriculture be in the support and cooperation of the harmful tobacco cultivation which results the tobacco cultivation control policy decision-making process hampered and delayed.

Urging for taking quick steps to control tobacco cultivation and to ensure responsibility and accountability of Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) organized a human chain program in front of National Press Club on 1 September 2016.

The demonstration program was presided by Helal Ahmed, Secretary General of Prottyasha Anti-Drug Organization, where Rafiqul Islam Milon, Adviser of Monobik; Syeda Anonna Rahman, Program Manager of WBB Trust; Towhid ud Dowla Reza, Project Officer of AID; Farzana Zaman Liza, Research Assistant of TCRC; Anadi Kumar Mandol, Executive Director of Prodesh; Ankhi Akter, Chairman of Dustha Nari o Shishu Kollyan Trust gave speech. Abu Rayhan, Assistant Project Officer of WBB trust, moderated the program.

Speakers said, government has taken positive steps in tobacco control. To move forward this activities govt. need some definite rules. But, we have noted with concern that in spite of taking a policy decision to control the tobacco cultivation, but Ministry of Agriculture and the concerned authority has no specific plans to implement that. Despite of being in the upright position in producing food and crops some scheming is working to increase the tobacco cultivation to ruin country’s achievement. Country’s food security is falling in serious risk. Providing tobacco company illegal facilities and opportunities is the main reason behind this. To prevent the tobacco activities from tobacco companies’ interference, awareness have to create about FCTC article 5.3 and govt. institutions should come forward in this regard.

They also said, many officer of Ministry of Agriculture are opposing tobacco control for mysterious reasons. Government’s tobacco control activity has been questioned due to not taking firm steps to control and banning of tobacco cultivation.  

Representative from TABINAJ, LRB foundation and other anti-tobacco organizations participated in the human chain program.