Tobacco ads stopped after passing tobacco control law in 2005; a positive sign for tobacco control. Despite, companies are violating law in various forms. Especially smoking scenes in cinema and drams increased sharply. This runs the youth to tobacco consumption and addiction. It is to remember that many of the youth engaged in addiction after smoking. So, smoking scenes in cinema and drama should be banned in order to create an addiction free society and to save people from premature demise. 

The speakers made the call at a meeting organized on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day-2012 at the office of Civil Surgeon of Dhaka at 11.00 AM. Civil Surgeon Dr. Jasim Uddin Ahmed chaired the function while Aminul Islam Sujon, Project Coordinator of WBB Trust presented the key note on the advancement and challenges of implementation of tobacco control law. Dr. Saiful Islam, medical officer, office of the Civil Surgeon, Dhaka and Rahina Khatun, Lecturer of Family Welfare Visitors Institution also addressed in the function. The function was convened by Md. Mohsin Mian, Junior Health Education Officer, Office of the Civil Surgeon, Dhaka.

In his address, Dr. Jasim Uddin Ahmed said, family is the primary center of any positive mentality development. Non-smokers from the family should step forward to create awareness and to refrain family members from tobacco use. They should be active to keep all family members free from tobacco use. In addition, smokers should assure no smoking before the non-smokers especially women and children in the family.

He also said the prevalence of using Sadapata, Zarda, Gul is the highest in the world. This type of tobacco use increases the risk of occurrence of cancers in palate, throat, uterus etc. Smoking or tobacco use during pregnancy results giving birth of dead or low weight child. In addition, children are attacked by Asthma and respiratory problems. So, awareness about tobacco use reduction should be increased.

Aminul Islam in his key note said, every year 12 lac people of Bangladesh are attacked by lung cancer, heart attack, diabetics, Asthma, etc. Among them 3 lac 82 thousands people become disabled and 57 thousands lose their lives. In addition, Second Hand Smoking infects non-smokers and women and children. In order to reduce tobacco impacts, government passed tobacco control law in 2005 and Regulations in 2006. In addition, district and sub-district taskforce were formed in 2007. National Tobacco Control Cell was also formed to coordinate tobacco control activities. In order to continue tobacco control, high tax should be imposed on tobacco products and should amend existing law.

Enam Ahmed, Executive Director of Jalalabad Foundation, Abdul Alim, Deputy Project Manager of NATAB, Murshida Akter Laboni, Assistant Project Officer of WBB Trust and Network Officer Adut Rahman Imon took part in open discussion.