Smoke-free environment will soon be enforced in all hotels, restaurants, and establishments affiliated to Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) said Momahhad Ali Kadar, Chairman of BPC.
He said this while addressing a meeting at the conference room of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation at Agargaon in the capital on Thursday.
He was the chief guest at a seminar on 'Role of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in building 100 percent smoke-free hospitality sector,' jointly organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in collaboration with Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK). Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation will also take the necessary steps for this purpose.
The meeting was chaired by BPC Director (Joint Secretary) Md.
Abdus Samad. Lead Policy Advisor of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Coordinator (Additional Secretary), National Tobacco Control Cell Hossain Ali Khondakar, Treasurer of Bangladesh Restaurant Owners’ Association Md. Taufiqul Islam, President of Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) Nadira Kiran, Director of Health, and Wash Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission Iqbal Masud Spoke at the meeting. Project Coordinator Md. Shariful Islam presented the keynote paper at the meeting.
Md. Mostafizur Rahman said that non-smokers have the right to protect themselves from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. However, the number of victims of secondhand smoke is higher. Since the smoke of smokers cannot be controlled that's why ‘designated smoking areas’ in all public places should be banned.
Nadira Kiran, president of the Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB), said there are laws in 63 countries, including Canada, Spain, and Nepal, to ban ‘designated smoking areas in public places to protect the health of non-smokers. This is an example for us. We can similarly take the initiative to ban ‘designated smoking areas’ to ensure a 100 percent smoke-free environment in all public places, including the hospitality sector.
Iqbal Masud, director of the health and wash sector at the Dhaka Ahsania Mission, said that ‘designated smoking area’ is a barrier to keeping the 'public place' 100 percent smoke-free. Therefore, if the hospitality sector is kept completely smoke-free, all non-smokers including women, children, workers, and employees will be protected from the harmful effect of secondhand smoke.
