Integrated efforts imperative to check tobacco use

Integrated efforts of all government and non-government entities concerned can be the crucial means of strengthening the anti-tobacco campaign for protecting many people from various non-communicable diseases from both active and passive smoking.

Utmost emphasis should be given to highlighting health and other risks associated with tobacco use apart from advocating for effective policy to cut tobacco consumption, administrative officials and law enforcers came up with the observation while addressing a post-rally discussion in Rajshahi on Wednesday.

Divisional and District administrations jointly organised the meeting at the office conference hall of the Divisional Commissioner in observance of World No Tobacco Day-2023.

This year's theme of the day is "Grow Food, Not Tobacco". This theme aims to raise awareness about alternative crop production and marketing opportunities for tobacco farmers and encourage them to grow sustainable, nutritious crops.

Commissioner of Rajshahi division GSM Jafarullah addressed the meeting as chief guest with Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed in the chair.

Additional Commissioner Dr Mokshed Ali welcomed the participants giving an illustration of aspects of the day.

Imposing restrictions on smoking in public places and transport is very important for protecting many non-smokers from various non-communicable diseases caused by smoking.

The use of tobacco items causes many non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis and chronic respiratory disorder.

Divisional Director of Local Government Enamul Haque, Additional Commissioner Imtiaz Hossain, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Shamsun Nahar, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police Naresh Chakma and Deputy Director of Department of Narcotics Control Alamgir Hossain also spoke.

Commissioner Jafarullah highlighted the risks of tobacco on health and called for full-length enforcement of the tobacco control law to cut tobacco use in the country.

He urged all to take comprehensive measures to raise voices against tobacco use to build a tobacco-free society.

Commissioner Zafarullah also said the government has amended the law to make it more stringent because of the growing tobacco use in the country. As per the law, the selling of cigarettes to those below 18 has been banned.

He said mobile courts should be conducted against all sorts of violations of the law, adding that all the district administrations should supplement Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's announcement of freeing the country from tobacco use by 2040.

The Health Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Consortium (DAMC) also observed the day here today through a rally and discussion meeting. Kobir Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Muhammad Kamruzzaman and Mahamudul Hasan from DAMC, among others, addressed the meeting disseminating their expertise on the issue.