Producers and Directors pledge to stop smoking scenes in films to protect youth
On 28 March 2024 MANAS and Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) jointly organized a discussion meeting titled “Film Directors, Producers to Implement Tobacco Control Law” at the Manna Digital Complex of BFDC. In this meeting renowned film directors, producers, and distributors have pledged to provide a more positive message to the youth by avoiding smoking scenes in the powerful entertainment medium. Movies are an exemplary portion of entertainment as well as education. To implement the tobacco-free Bangladesh announced by the Honorable Prime Minister, everyone should strive to comply with the Tobacco Control Law. To save our future generations must work together from destruction.
Umm Jannat, project coordinator of MANAS, said in the keynote presentation, that the Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, prohibits the advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products and the promotion and display of scenes of the use of tobacco products in movies, dramas or documentaries. Although prohibited by law, films, posters, thumbnails, and trailers show scenes of smoking by the main characters. Smoking scenes are also seen in web series aired on OTT platforms. Teenagers love to imitate. Cigarettes in the hands of celebrities are encouraging teenagers to smoke, which is alarming!
Public health policy expert Ad. Syed Mahbubul Alam said that the young generation is being destroyed by promoting smoking to protect the interests of drama and cinema. We need healthy entertainment. We cannot accept things like smoking that harm society.
In the speech of the special guest, Ashrafur Rahman, administrator of the Bangladesh Film Producers and Distributors Association, said that it is possible to make good films without putting tobacco scenes in the films. Our film directors and producers should pay attention to this matter. Commercially successful films can be made without smoking scenes.
Bangladesh Film Directors Association, Secretary General, Shahin Sumon said, first of all, awareness should be started among families. Because the family is the first place of education for people. Today, from this family of Film Directors and Producers Association, we all have to keep that effort so that we can cooperate in the implementation of the Tobacco Control Law.
In the speech of the chief guest, Bangladesh Film Development Corporation Managing Director Nuzhat Yasmin said that research is needed on why young people are using tobacco. Film directors’ associations, film producers, and screenwriters can play the most important role in making films accessible to all through healthy and natural entertainment.
And the founder president of MANAS, heroic freedom fighter Prof. Dr. ArupRatan Choudhury said in the President’s speech that proper implementation of laws is necessary to ensure healthy living among people, which can help achieve the goal of becoming tobacco-free. He wished for the cooperation of all concerned in the implementation of drug and tobacco-free country.
The organizing secretary of MANAS, heroic freedom fighter Matiur Rahman Talukder, general secretary of Prottasha, Helal Ahmed, and others also spoke at the meeting. The program was moderated by Abu Rayhan, Senior Project and Communication Officer, MANAS.
The representatives of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation, Bangladesh Film Directors Association, Bangladesh Film Producers Distributors Association, Tobacco Control, and Research Cell, Grambangla Unnayan Committee, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Aid Foundation, WBB Trust, and NATAB were present at the meeting.
