The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a meeting called for revising the tobacco law with a view to creating mass awareness on bad impact of smoking and using other tobacco products.

They gave this suggestion at a view exchange meeting on 'Adverse Impact of Smoking with Necessity of Using Picture on Bidi- Cigarettes Packets and Tobacco Products' at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and Bangladesh Consortium on Tobacco Control (BCTC) jointly organised the meeting.

Bhorhan Ahmed, President of CAB presided over the meeting.

Around 57,000 people die every year in the country due to smoking and using of tobacco products, Dr M Mostafa Jaman, National Professional Officer of WHO, said quoting from WHO survey report.

"Smoking is a silent killer. But, the media didn't play proper role to create awareness about adverse effects of smoking and others tobacco products," Dr Jaman said.

Iqbal Masud, BCTC Programme Coordinator in his keynote paper said that the uneducated people could know about harmful effect of Bidi-Cigarettes through using pictures on their packets.

He called for coordinated initiative to create awareness among the people in this regard.

Bhorhan Ahmed said that the government should take steps to revise the existing law on smoking and tobacco products.

He emphasised the role of the media in motivating people to give up the habit of smoking and using tobacco products.