Tobacco Companies Influence & Interference to Promote e- Cigarette Among the Youths
Despite the Tobacco Control Act of Bangladesh, the tobacco companies’ interference is still ongoing. The speakers think that Bangladesh’s tobacco control law must be amended. They also think that tobacco is the worst obstacle to making smart Bangladesh. Policymakers and public representatives have to be conscious. Aiming at human health, immediately smoking zones in public places must be abandoned, and e-cigarette and retail sales must be stopped. These opinions were stated by the speakers at a discussion on the “Strengthening Tobacco Control law: Role of Public Representatives” discussion meeting organized by MANAS at Meghna Hall, Pan Pacific Sonargaon on 12 August 2023.
Adv Md. Qamrul Islam, MP, the presidium member of Bangladesh Awami League was the chief guest. The meeting was chaired by the MANAS founder president heroic freedom fighter, Prof Dr. Arupratan Choudhury. Besides the respected guests were ten members of our national parliament. They were Vice Principal Md. Abdus Shahid MP, R.A.M Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury MP, Pankaj Nath MP, Ashim Kumar Ukil MP, Rana Mohammad Shohel MP, Tamanna Nusrat Bubly MP, Jinnatul Bakia MP, Sultana Nadira MP and Umme Fatema Nazma Begum MP. Organizing Secretary, MANAS, Matiur Rahman Talukder, hold the welcome speech.
Adv. Syed Mahabubul Alam, the Technical Adviser, The UNION delivered the main keynote at the meeting. In his presentation, he mentioned that in our country everyday people spent 1077 taka on cigarettes and 377 takas on bidi respectively. He also mentioned that, every year we have to spend more money on human health issues for tobacco consumer patients than we earn from tobacco companies. More than 1 lakh, 61 Thousand people die every year as a consequence of using tobacco. To bring this percentage to 0%, the Hon Prime Minister of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina has declared Bangladesh a tobacco-free country by 2040. With this, the Bangladesh government has taken initiatives to make reasonable amendments to the tobacco control act. But the tobacco companies have opposed it. Since a big volume of our total population is youth, Tobacco Companies made them their target and introduced various interventions to promote tobacco, i.e. promoting e-cigarettes, making smoking corners in restaurants, and misguiding people with propaganda. Besides, presently it’s alarming at showing tobacco-consuming scenes in electronic media. Notably, a few companies have violated the tobacco control act, which is really alarming.
Chief Guest Adv Kamrul Islam MP stated in his speech that tobacco companies have started lobbying so that Bangladesh government rests on increasing tax on tobacco and not to amend the tobacco control act. The chief guest also stated that at present Bangladesh government is working on the tobacco control law amendment. Already the provision of smoking zones in public places and transport has been abolished. He called the members of parliament to support passing the bill in parliament.
Chairperson of the meeting, the heroic freedom fighter founder president MANAS Prof. Dr. Arupratan stated that many adolescents have shattered the dreams of their parents being victimized by tobacco and drugs. We need to promote the negative consequences of tobacco and tobacco consumption in both print and electronic media. To abolish drugs, first we need to focus on tobacco as he stated. And by this, the dream of tobacco free state by 2040 can be achieved.
Mr. Shafiqul Islam, Head of Programs, Vital Strategies-Bangladesh and Prof. Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruq, Chairperson, Bangladesh Cancer Society also spoke in the meeting. The meeting was moderated by Umme Jannat, Project Coordinator, MANAS.
