All sorts of tobacco advertisements, promotion and sponsorships are banned by the tobacco control law. So, death-stick seller tobacco companies are conducting various deceptive activities to addict youth in tobacco use. From the moral position and principle of international tobacco control treaty, it is necessary to refrain from supporting tobacco industries to arrange any program. Public and private university authorities should be concerned that no tobacco companies could enter in the educational institutions.

Speakers opined that in a discussion meeting organized by Stamford University Bangladesh and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust at Shiddheswary campus auditorium of Stamford University Bangladesh on 31 January 2017. Professor Dr. M Feroze Ahmed, Vice Chancellor of Stamford University Bangladesh addressed in the meeting as chief guest.  Gaous Pearee, Director of WBB Trust chaired in the meeting while Dr. Rashed Nur, Chairman of Microbiology Department of Stamford University Bangladesh and Debra Efroymson, Regional Director of HealthBridge spoke as special guest.

In their speech, speakers said ‘in the name of recruitment, cunning and deadly product selling company British American Tobacco Company is conducting a competition named “Battle of Mind” in different public universities. These programs organized for promoting tobacco products and dragging the young people to tobacco addiction by tempting about employment and creating a positive image to the Policymakers. Young people will lead the future and they should stay away from the addiction and of need to be active and constructive activities. As the youths are main target of tobacco companies, so they should be made aware to stand against such deceitful actions.’

It is noted that, through an effort of the Work for a Better Bangladesh in 1999, Stamford College was declared smoke free before the law and since the Stamford University Bangladesh started their journey, its been Smoke-free institution and they are very encouraging to in anti-tobacco activities.

Syeda Anonna Rahman, Program Manager of WBB Trust presented keynote speech and Aminul Islam Sujon, Executive editor of ‘Swamoswar’- quarterly newsletter of Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) moderated the program. Among others, teachers and students of Stamford University Bangladesh were present in the meeting.