More than 10 million women in Bangladesh are victim of indirect smoking in public places and public transports. About 14 million adult women use chewing tobacco including raw tobacco leaf (shada pata), jarda with betel leaf gul in gum. Besides, seven million women smoke. About 3% of adolescents, aged 13 to 15 years are uses tobacco. Number of youths smoking is increasing in urban areas due to fraudulent propaganda of crafty tobacco companies. It is important to protect women from tobacco consumption and smoking and from second-hand/passive smoking.

Speakers opined at the view exchange meeting organized by anti-tobacco organizations working in Bangladesh and officials of Bangladesh Girls Guide Association (BGGA) at BGGA office on 19 June 2017. At the time, concern is been expressed for the tobacco industry’s publicity in the college, university students, and women's public campaign on public health. In the view exchange meeting, Deputy National Commissioner of Bangladesh Girl Guides Association.

Dr. Yeasmin Ahmed; Regional Commissioner Rawshan Ara Islam; General Seceratry Tanzina Binte Mosharraf and other officials of BGGA were present. Program Manager of WBB Trust Syeda Anonna Rahman; Project Officers Sharmin Akter Rini and Fahmida Islam; Project officer of AID Foundation Kazi Hasibul Huq were present in the meeting. Dr. Yeasmin Ahmed said, ‘after implementation of Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Law, the use of smoking has reduced in public places and public transports. Tobacco industries promotional activities are increasing in the college and universities that should resisted. Bangladesh Girl Guides will work actively in tobacco control for the development of public health.’ Syeda Anonna Rahman said, ‘Tobacco industry’s main goal is profit. So, they want to increase the profits by making addicted all in use of tobacco including men and women. In recent time, they are campaigning in colleges and universities to attract the girls in smoking. Young girls are becoming addicted in smoking by being trapped in the industry’s illegal propaganda. The social organization as well as the government will have to come forward to stop industry’s illegal promotion of targeting the women.