The research organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) have urged the government to pass the Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Ordinance as a law in the National Parliament as soon as possible.
This demand was raised during a press conference held at the National Press Club on Wednesday.
According to these organisations, it is essential to convert this ordinance into a formal law during the first session of the current parliament to protect public health.
The press conference highlighted the devastating impact of tobacco, noting that approximately 200,000 people die every year in the country due to tobacco use.
In terms of health and environmental damage, tobacco causes an annual financial loss of nearly Tk87,000 crore, which is more than double the total revenue earned from the tobacco sector.
Currently, 35 percent of the adult population in the country uses tobacco, a statistic described as highly alarming.
In this context, the speakers warned that the negative impact of tobacco on public health and the national economy will continue to grow unless a strong and effective law is implemented quickly.
Speakers at the event mentioned that the current government, in its election manifesto, promised to take necessary legal steps to control non-communicable diseases caused by tobacco.
If the Tobacco Control Ordinance becomes law in the first session of parliament, the new generation will be protected from the grip of dangerous nicotine products like e-cigarettes or vapes.
Furthermore, a large number of non-smokers, including women and children, will be shielded from the harmful effects of passive smoking, and the general public will be discouraged from using tobacco products.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Hasan Shahriar, project head of Tobacco Control at PROGGA, and the programme was moderated by Nadira Kiron, co-convener of ATMA.
Other speakers included Monir Hossain Liton, head of Online (Bangla) at the Daily Times of Bangladesh; Kawser Rahman, chief reporter of Daily Janakantha; Mortuza Haider Liton, convener of ATMA; Mizan Chowdhury, co-convener of ATMA; and ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA.
