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100 eminent citizens demand ban on tobacco sale in pandemic

Write to PM


Published : 07 May 2020 10:06 PM | Updated : 04 Sep 2020 10:32 PM

Considering the severe detrimental effects of tobacco and its active role in deteriorating coronavirus crisis, 100 eminent citizens of Bangladesh have raised demands for a temporary ban on the marketing and sale of all tobacco products during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to protect public health.

The list of signatories includes prominent economist Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Convener of National Anti-Tobacco Platform; National Professor Brig. (Rtd.) Abdul Malik, Founder and President of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh; Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka; Dr. Abul Barkat, Professor of Department of Economics and Japanese Studies, University of Dhaka; Ghulam Rahman, President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh; Khondokar Ibrahim Khaled, former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank; Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, journalist leader and Editor-in-Chief of TV Today; Dr. Arup Ratan Chowdhury, dental specialist and recipient of Ekushey Padak; Prof. Dr. A.K. Azad Khan, President, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh; Dr. Nasir Uddin Ahmed, former Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR); Muzzammil Husain Monju, Senior Journalist; Sukanta Gupta Alak, Editor, Desh TV; Abu Taher, Joint Editor, Bangladesh Pratidin and others.

They said, in the battle to prevent the spread of coronavirus contamination and provide medical treatment to the patients, Bangladesh and the other countries are following the guidelines developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

According to WHO, the use of tobacco increases the risk of coronavirus infection (due to frequent hand-mouth contacts) and also the risk of serious illness due to lung disease or reduced lung capacity. 

Tobacco products also weaken the immune system of the body, making it extremely vulnerable to coronavirus infection. 

 A number of countries including India, South Africa and Botswana have already taken this WHO warning very seriously and imposed temporary ban on the sale of all tobacco products. 

On Thursday, the eminent citizens, in their letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasised that Bangladesh should utilize the global experience to effectively combat the spread of novel coronavirus. 

The letter also says, in Bangladesh, 37.8 million adults use tobacco products and 41 million people fall victim to secondhand smoke in their own homes. 

This huge portion of the population, victims of direct or indirect tobacco use, are currently at grave risk of severe coronavirus infection. The treatment of COVID-19 patients occasionally requires artificial ventilation support. 

If there is a continuous exponential growth in the number of patients, it may cause scarcity of ventilators and other medical equipment and facilities. 

So, if the marketing and sale of tobacco products is allowed to continue during this pandemic, it would create an additional pressure on the healthcare system, eventually intensifying the crisis. 

Under this circumstance, to protect public health, the PM is urged to impose a temporary ban on the sale of cigarettes, bidis, jarda, gul and other tobacco products.