World No Tobacco Day being observed

Bangladesh is observing the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ on Sunday with other countries of the world.

The day’s focus is on protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use, reports UNB.

For decades, the tobacco industry has deliberately employed strategic, aggressive and well-resourced tactics to attract the youth to tobacco and nicotine products.

Tobacco causes 8 million deaths worldwide. In Bangladesh alone, tobacco-related illness claims 126,000 lives a year, according to a press release from PROGGA.

Read Also: Tobacco hazard costs Tk 30,570 crore in Bangladesh

PROGGA said that to attract teenagers and the youth and transform them into future loyal customers, tobacco companies spend $9 billion a year.

According to US Surgeon General Report 2014, nearly 90 percent of adult smokers began smoking by the age of 18.