Activities

Anti-tobacco organizations demanded enactment of tobacco law amendment bill with recommendations of nullification of provision of smoke-free zone, provision of individual right to litigate for law violation, and stopping tobacco ads under CSR activities by tobacco companies. The speakers made the demand from a roundtable jointly organized by WBB Trust, ACLAB, AID, Prottyasha, and NATAB at BILIA Center Auditorium today. The program was chaired by Mojaffor Hossain Paltu, Senior President of NATAB while Dr. Shah Alam, Chairman of Law Commission, Professor Dr. Sadeka Halim, Ishrat Chowdhury, Technical Advisor of The Union and environmentalist Engineer Abdus Shobahan were present in the program.

Dr. Sha Alam said main problem in our country is law implementation. The main force for law implementation is public. So, involvement of people is important for law implementation. Regulations should be passed after enactment of law involving civil society and public in its implementation process. Campaign by tobacco companies through CSR should be banned. In addition, provision of individual right to litigate in case of law violation is also important.

Professor Dr. Sadeka Halim said, in implementation of this law like Right to Information Act, multi-national companies are big challenge. Inclusion of tobacco control in school curriculum and strengthen anti-tobacco campaign is necessary for tobacco control. Passive smoking is a great problem. It is important to work for saving people from passive smoking. In addition, concentration should be given to protect deterioration of hill tracts for tobacco farming.

Environmentalist Engineer Abdus Shobhan said, tobacco farming is harmful for environment. It is time for Government to take action for tobacco farming control. If it remains unchecked, it will create a threat for food production in the country.

Israt Chowdhury said, in implementing tobacco control law people along with Ministry of Health should play pivotal role. It is not feasible to exist provision of smoking zone adjacent public place and public transport. Owners of public place and public transport should initiate installation of No Smoking Signage in designated areas. Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Land should undertake actions for control of tobacco farming.

Syed Mahbubul Alam said, Initiative of controlling smoking and tobacco products had been undertaken through 12 laws from 1890 to 2005. Due to enactment of law in 2005, ban on tobacco ads was ensured and much advancement was made in giving written warning on tobacco packs. Smoking was reduced due to mobile court and increasing awareness regarding public places and public transports. But public expectation regarding ban on smoking at public places and public transports remains a dream. We should start a fresh in implementing the law.

The program was also addressed by Helal Ahmed, General Secretary of Protyasha, Ibnul Syed Rana, Chairman of Nirapad Development Foundation, Shamsul Alam, Director of ACLAB, Sayada Kumkum of UBINIG, Advocate S M Saikat, Executive Director of SERAC Bangladesh, Dentist A F M Sarwar, Advisor of Manobik M Rafiqul Islam Milon, Advocate Mahbub Alam, President of BADSHA, and Humayun Kabir Sumon of Green Voice. Participants from many sects of life including Environmentalist, Educationist and social workers were present in the function.