Anti-tobacco activists, experts on tobacco control and public health, economists and professionals of other sectorsconsider tobacco as a threat to the safety for food security, public health and environment.
Commenting that public health and environmental protection and food safety are now burning issues, they said that the proposed ‘Tobacco Cultivation Control Policy’ must be finalized immediatelyto stop tobacco cultivation in Bangladesh.
“Tobacco has become a major obstacle to food production. So, cessation of the tobacco farming in the country is a must to address the food security risk,” the anti-tobacco activistsand tobacco control experts
saidthese at different events on Wednesday (May 31) on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day-2023.
To mark the day, various anti-tobacco platforms and many other government and non-government organisationsarranged different programmes in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
The World No Tobacco Day was observed in the country as elsewhere in the world to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and to advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco use.This year’s theme for the day was “We need food, not tobacco.”
The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) observed the day for the first time amid various programmes. Marking the day, the DNCC brought out a colourful procession in Kawla area in the city.
DNCC Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam led the procession. Later, a discussion was held where the DNCC Mayor spoke as the chief guest.
Observation of the World No Tobacco Day was appreciated by the researchers on tobacco control and many others. “The DNCC’s procession, discussion and other programmesmarking the World No Tobacco Daywill play a vital role against tobaccoconsumption in Bangladesh,” Syed MahbubulAlamTahin, an expert on tobacco control and technical adviser at The Union; told the Bangladesh Post.
DNCC Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam delivered a compelling speech during the grand inauguration ceremony of the day. The event witnessed the presence of notable dignitaries, including Dhaka-18 MP Habib Hasan.
In his speech, the Mayor vehemently condemned the consumption of tobacco and shed light on the severe health hazards it poses. He called upon the people from all walks of life to join hands in combating this pervasive issue and to work collectively towards creating a tobacco-free society.
Bureau of Economic Research (BER) of Dhaka University, Tobacco Control and Research Cell (TCRC) of Dhaka International University, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA), WBB Trust, Development Activities of Society (DAS), AID Foundation, Dhaka Ahsania Missionand many other anti-tobacco organisationstook part in the DNCC’s World No Tobacco Day programmes.
To mark the World No Tobacco Day, the National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) under the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare brought out an anti-tobacco procession in the capital. The NTCC also observed some other programmes marking the day.
Hossain Ali Khandaker, an additional secretary of the health ministry and coordinator at the NTCC; called upon the anti-tobacco activists and all others to work against tobacco consumption in the country.
The World No Tobacco Day was also observed in various districts in the country. On the occasion, a rally was brought out from the deputy commissioner's office in Habiganjwhich paraded the important streets in the district town.
A rally was brought out from the deputy commissioner's office in Shariatpurwhich paraded the important streets in the district. The Shariatpurdistrict administration also arranged a discussion at the conference room of the deputy commissioner office with deputy commissioner (DC) Md Parvez Hasan in the chair.