Every day a large gathering of children of all ages, men and women and non-smoking people is taking place in the premises of Ekushey Book Fair of Bangla Academy held at Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka. Not only public health protection but also the security of the book fair should be 100% smoke free. To protect the public from the direct and indirect harm of tobacco, the government has enacted the Smoking and Tobacco Use (Control) Act. For the past few years, in addition to public health protection, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Bangla Academy have jointly banned entry to the fair premises with lighters and cigarettes. The initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Bangla Academy in implementing the Tobacco Control Act deserves high praise.

 

Hon'ble Prime Minister has expressed his firm commitment to build a tobacco free Bangladesh by 2040 for the development of public health. According to the suffix, in order to achieve the desired goal, it is necessary to take steps for the implementation of the law as well as the policies that support the control of tobacco. Taking advantage of the government's stake in tobacco companies, the tobacco companies have long been obstructing the formulation of policies conducive to the protection of public health in various ways. In order to achieve the desired goal of tobacco control, it is necessary to withdraw government shares from tobacco companies and formulate a specific code of conduct in accordance with the FCTC. The demand was made during a sit-in program and leaflet distribution campaign organized by Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance, WBB Trust and Pratasha Anti-Drug Organization at the book fair premises on March 15, 2022 at 4 pm. The campaign was led by Helal Ahmed, Acting Coordinator, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance, Sagufta Sultana, Project Director, Aid Foundation; Shafiul Azam, Executive Director, Integrated Development Forum (IDF); Hassan, Tahsmina Hamid, an official of Pratasha Anti-Drug Organization, HR Imran, an official of DAS and representatives of other organizations working on tobacco control participated.

 

Helal Ahmed said that the concerted efforts of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and keeping the fair premises of Bangla Academy smoke-free in the provision of public health protection and security of the fair were appreciated. The number of non-communicable diseases and deaths due to harmful products tobacco is increasing. There is only eighteen years to implement the conviction of Hon'ble Prime Minister. In order to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh during this period, it is necessary to withdraw government shares from tobacco companies and ensure transparency and accountability in the communication of government officials.

 

Sagufta Sultana said tobacco was causing a wide spread of infectious diseases like cancer, non-communicable diseases and various respiratory diseases as well as Kovid-19. Tk 30,560 crore has been spent in the 2017-18 financial year for the treatment of these diseases. The government is trying to formulate and implement policies to protect people of all ages from the risk of death caused by tobacco, but the tobacco companies are creating obstacles in these areas.

 

Shafiul Azam said the government's objective is to reduce tobacco use in improving public health. On the other hand, the purpose of tobacco companies is to make profit and expand business. The objectives and policies of the government and the tobacco companies in the development of public health are completely opposite.

 

Samiul Hasan said that due to the unsolicited intervention of the tobacco company, it was not possible to achieve the desired target. It is important to finalize the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) and take immediate steps to protect public health from the effects of tobacco companies.