Come forward, protest smoking publicly

Ant-tobacco campaigners called upon the people to come forward in protest against taking tobacco publicly, saying, "If necessary cases can be filed with police stations to this end. In case of denying registration of cases in police stations, cases can be lodged with courts."

They made the call while speaking an award distribution ceremony jointly organized by Progga (knowledge for Progress) and Anti Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), platforms of ant-smoking campaigners, yesterday in CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government is taking initiatives to make the country tobacco-free by 2040.

Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique also spoke at the function chaired by Deputy Editor of the Daily Samakal Muzzammil Husain. Progga awarded six journalists from print, electronic and online media with 'Tobacco Control Journalism Award 2017' for their anti-tobacco reports published in the last one year.

The awardees are - Golam Murtaza Jewel of Daily Kirtonkhola, SAM Hamid-Uz-Zaman Mamun of Jugantor, Md Shafiqul Islam of Bangla Tribune, Parimal Palma of the Daily Star, Sushanta Sinha of Jamuna,Television and minor journalist Sadik Evan of 'Hello' of www.bdnews24.com.