Strict enforcement of tobacco control law emphasized

Speakers at an advocacy meeting on Monday uneq-uivocally called for combating the existing violation of the amended tobacco control law for the sake of making the public health free from various diseases caused by tobacco use. They said the number of mobile courts should be enhanced both in rural and urban areas including the growth centers and some public places like railway stations, bus terminals and amusement areas to make those free from smoking, reports BSS. Association for Community Development (ACD) organized the meeting styled "Strengthening Tobacco Control in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions" held at the conference hall of Divisional Commissioner Office in the city. Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids (CTFK) and Bloomberg Philanthropies supported the meeting.

With Commissioner of Rajshahi Division Abdul Hannan in the chair, Additional Commissioners Munir Hossain and Aminul Islam, Director of Local Government Division Shayam Kishore Roy and Deputy Commissioner Kazi Ashraf Uddin spoke on the occasion. Abdul Hannan viewed the government has amended the law to make it more stringent because of growing tobacco use in the country. The law also bans the selling of cigarettes to those below 18, he also said. The tobacco control and its violation issues should be incorporated in the meetings of both district and upazila development committees so that the tobacco industries and others concerned are enforced to abide by the law properly. During his keynote presentation, Ehsanul Amin Emon, Project Coordinator of ACD, said around 57,000 people die and nearly 12 lakh people become disabled every year in the country due to tobacco-related diseases.