The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a view exchange meeting in the city urged the government to stop all kinds of advertisements on tobacco and tobacco products.

At present, the amount of fine for violating the Anti-Tobacco Act by tobacco companies in the country is very low. To implement the Act the rate of the fine should be increased considerably, they said.

They urged the government to take effective steps for implementation of the Anti Tobacco Act. Banning of advertisements of tobacco in print and electronic media and increase in smoke free zones in public places across the country have helped implement the Anti Tobacco Act at present, they said.

The view exchange meeting on 'Achievement of controlling use of tobaccos and remedies' jointly organised by non-government organisations, WBB Trust, The Union and Manobik at the National Press Club yesterday.

Dr Shahadat Hossain, Deputy Secretary, moderated the meeting, while Rafiqul Islam Milon, President of Manobik, presented keynote paper. Saifuddin Ahmed, Coordinator of Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance, chaired the meeting.

The speakers said agricultural lands are decreasing and deforestation is increasing across the country due to increase of tobacco cultivation. As a result, public health and economy are being affected.

The government should find out alternative to tobacco cultivation and ban of shots on tobacco products or smoking of actors in films and dramas, they said.

They urged the government to highlight the bad impact of smoking in all types of media. The government should include local community and religious leaders or imams of mosques to dream up support for the anti tobacco movement.

Anwarul Haque, Joint Secretary of Law Ministry, Mainul Kabir, Deputy Secretary, Masud Mannan, Director General of Foreign Ministry, Md Rasheduzzaman, Deputy Secretary, Abu Taleb Mollah, Deputy Secretary of Home Ministry, Dr Salek, researcher, Dr Habibullah Talukder, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Cancer Foundation, among others, spoke at the meeting.