Speakers at a sit-in programme have said that use of tobacco products must be controlled in the country for the greater interest of the people as it is one of the leading causes various diseases, including cancer. However, the tobacco companies are adopting various tactics to create obstacles in tobacco control in the country, taking advantages of loopholes of the tobacco control law. Against the this backdrop, the existing tobacco control law should be amended to shun the loopholes, they added.
The sit-in programme was held in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Thursday (February 4), jointly organised by the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust on the occasion of World Cancer Day.
Md Nazmul Haider, Senior Program Manager of Young Power in Social Action, Mohiuddin Russel, Research Assistant of Tobacco Control and Research Cell at DIU, Young anti-tobacco activist Abu Raihan, ANM Masum Billah, Policy Officer of Institute of Wellbeing, Syeda Anannya Rahman, Program Manager of WBB Trust, Nazim Uddin, President of Old Dhaka Citizens Initiative, Humaira Tabassum, member of Circle Foundation, Jebunnesa Chowdhury, founding member of Heal, Samiul Hasan and Coordinator of Stop Emission Now delivered speech at the sit-in chaired by the general secretary of Pratyasha Anti-Drug Organization Helal Ahmed and conducted by the Network Officer of WBB Trust Shubho Karmakar.
The speakers said that it is possible to control cancer to a large extent in the country by amending the tobacco control law.
“It is important to update the existing laws and policies that create barriers to tobacco control to protect public health policies”, said Helal Ahmed.
Md Nazmul Haider said that although tobacco use is one of the causes of cancer, the President's (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, 1975, exempted from levying excise duty on any domestic tobacco if adopted by a member of the President's house or his guests. Considering the safety and overall welfare of an important person like the head of state, it is important to repeal the provision of tax free grant of harmful and unhealthy products like cigarettes.
The speakers demanded amendment to the existing law that hinder tobacco control along with The Control of Essential Commodities Act, 1956, Agricultural Marketing Act, 2018 and a few rules regarding the local government as well as creating a precise guideline according to the 5.3 article of FCTC. They also called for withdrawal of government’s share and representation in tobacco companies, banning the participation of government officials in programs organised by tobacco companies, taking necessary steps to prevent state widely reward in the field of best taxpayers, large industrial organization, tree plantation, etc. Representatives of Aid Foundation, NATAB, DAS, Bangladesh Girl Guides, Grambangla Unnayan Committee and Shujan participated in the programme.
