The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Gaibandha

A day-long meeting on the Implementation of Tobacco Control Act-2005 was held at the conference room of Sadullapur upazila parishad on Tuesday.

Upazila Task Force and Uddyog, a local NGO, jointly organised it in cooperation with Welcome for Better Bangladesh.

UNO of the upazila Farid Ahmed inaugurated the meeting as the chief guest.

With Dr Haris Uddin Ahmed, upazila health and family planning officer in the chair, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by M. Fazlul Haque Khan, M. Mostafizur Rahman Faruque, M. Mamun Hossain and Abdullah Al-Mamun.

Dr Haris Ahmed said smoking has become a major cause of health hazard. Inhaling one puff of cigarette smoke contains innumerable harmful particles and it impedes the normal flow of blood and oxygen, he added.

He said smoking may cause cancer, heart attack, blood pressure, chronic bronchitis and other diseases and makes similar harmful effects to a non-smoker who comes in touch of a smoker.

Considering the matters, the speakers at the meeting stressed the need for immediate implementation of Tobacco Control Act-2005 to build up a tobacco-free society.

A large number of upazila level officers, NGO workers, local elite, public representatives and journalists attended the meeting.