Some 20 anti-tobacco organisations have demanded the withdrawal of the ministry of industries directive on cigarette sale and manufacturing as tobacco increases the likelihood of getting infected by novel coronavirus.
At the same time, tobacco is not an item that can be considered as essential commodity under any circumstance.
The made the statement following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s pledge to make a tobacco free Bangladesh by 2040.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also expressed concern that smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to frequent hand-mouth contact and also that lung disease or reduced lung capacity due to smoking greatly increases the risk of serious illness.
South Africa has already taken this WHO warning very seriously and imposed ban on the sale of cigarettes and alcohol.
Considering the circumstance, anti-tobacco organizations (Bangladesh Cancer Society, BCCP, ACD, YPSA, Aid Foundation, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance, BNTTP, BITA, Grambangla Unnayan Committee, NATAB, Prattashya, TCRC, National Heart Foundation, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, UFAT, TABINAJ, Voice, WBB Trust, Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) and PROGGA) are urging the government to withdraw such directive of the ministry of industries and to temporarily ban on the sale of cigarettes during this corona pandemic crisis, utilising the useful experience gathered by South Africa.
The Ministry of Industries has very recently sent letters containing instructions on this issue, addressed to all Divisional Commissioners and District Administrators (Deputy Commissioners).
While Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s time-fitting response and measures with regard to coronavirus pandemic have been lauded at both home and abroad and become a source of hope and aspiration for mass people in this time of grave crisis, the industry ministries anti-public health move will undoubtedly create frustration among the public.
It should be noted that in Bangladesh, 37.8 million adults use tobacco and 41 million people fall victim to second-hand 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.
Considering the detrimental effect of tobacco on public health, the Prime Minister has made a commitment to make Bangladesh tobacco-free by 2040.
In the Philippines, one local government has temporarily banned cigarette sales. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh, amid the worsening pandemic situation, two multinational tobacco companies have been exempted from government declared restrictions, allowing those companies to continue cigarette manufacturing, marketing and purchasing tobacco leaves.
