Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh National Parliament Advocate Md Shamsul Haque Tuku, MP, said that health is the constitutional fundamental right of every citizen.
“We must work to build a healthy young generation. The present government is working to keep the young generation free from addictions and unhealthy activities,” he added.
The Deputy Speaker said these while speaking at a roundtable discussion as the chief guest at the conference room of the Parliament Members’ Club in the capital on Sunday (August 20).
TCRC of Dhaka International University (DIU) arranged the roundtable discussion with TCRC President Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP, in the chair. Project Manager of TCRC (Tobacco Control and Research Cell) Farhana Zaman Liza presented the keynote at the event.
Project Director of TCRC and Associate Professor at DIU Md. Bazlur Rahman moderated the roundtable discussion titled ‘E-Cigarette: Myth and Reality’, while former Health Minister and incumbent MP from Satkhira-3 constituency Prof Dr AFM Ruhal Haque, Nilphamari-3 MP Rana Mohammad Sohail, Bogura-3 MP Advocate Md Nurul Islam Talukder, and MP from Reserved Seats for Women Adiba Anjum Mita spoke on the occasion as special guests. Additional Secretary of Health Ministry and Coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) Md Hossain Ali Khandaker and DIG of Police Rakhfar Sultana Khanam also spoke at the event.
Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute Prof Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, President of Bangladesh Cancer Society Prof. Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruque, National Professional Officer of World Health Organisation (WHO) in Bangladesh Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Haque, Consultant of The Union Fahimul Islam, Technical Consultant of The Union Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, Head of Programs of Vital Strategies Md Shafiqul Islam took part in the discussion as experts on tobacco control and public health.
Representatives from various anti-tobacco organisations and rights platforms presented their views in the open discussion. Among them, Hamidul Islam Hillol, Syeda Anonna Rahman, Fahmida Islam and Sushanta Sinha.
Almost all the speakers said that imposing a ban on e-cigarette is a must to build a healthy young generation. At a time when the government is working to create a tobacco-free Bangladesh, tobacco companies’ efforts to promote e-cigarette pose a threat to the country’s public health and development, they said.
The speakers said that cigarette companies are using lies to promote e-cigarette in Bangladesh. An early ban on e-cigarettes is essential to save the younger generation of the country from e-cigarette addiction.
Speaking as an expert on tobacco control, Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin of The Union said that the government has introduced universal pension system. If the money spent by the youth on smoking is saved for pension every month, the future of the youth will be assured and the health system of the country will improve. “The country needs to reduce tobacco use in order to reduce the burden on hospitals and control disease,” he said
In the speech as the chief guest, Advocate Md Shamsul Haque Tuku said that all tobacco products, including e-cigarette, are harmful to public health. All drugs, including tobacco and e-cigarette, are at the root of any crime in Bangladesh.
He further said that young society is getting addicted to drugs, smoking and e-smoking. E-cigarette cannot be an alternative for smoking cessation. He assured of full cooperation to bring another amendment to the tobacco control law. “We want a smoke free and e-cigarette free Bangladesh,” he said.
In her speech, Adiba Anjum Mita, MP, said that currently youth and children are getting addicted to various drugs, including smoking. This is how young children are getting addicted to e-cigarettes.
Rana Mohammad Sohail, MP, said that e-cigarettes cannot be a harm reduction product in any way. Its use is growing like wildfire. So, it must be banned as soon as early, he demanded.
“All types of tobacco products and e-cigarettes must be banned in the country to build a smoke-free Bangladesh,” said Advocate Md Nurul Islam Talukder, MP.
In his presidential speech, Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP, said that there are huge challenges in the anti-tobacco movement. E-cigarette has been added with tobacco. Import of e-cigarette is allowed through HS code, which should be stopped without any delay. E-cigarette needs to be stopped now before it reaches dire level in Bangladesh, he opined.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed amendments to the tobacco control law where a proposal has been made to ban e-cigarette. The law needs to be amended, the lawmaker demanded.
