Public health development has close relation with the existing laws and policies of a country. Some people tend to influence these policies to meet their own interests and tobacco industries play an active role in this regard. It is the need of time to prioritize tobacco control and amend the laws that create obstacles to implement tobacco control initiatives. Speakers opined such in the dissemination program of research titled ‘laws and policies creating obstacles to implement tobacco control initiatives’. The event was organized by Bangladesh anti-tobacco Alliance and WBB Trust on 18 January 2021. The research was conducted by WBB trust with the support of The Union. The President's (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, 1975 says that ‘No…
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On 12 January 2021, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust jointly with Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA), organized a Conference on sustainable Tobacco Control in Bangladesh with the support of The Union. Government and non-government officials, representatives from international organizations, environmentalists, public health experts, agriculturists, media representatives, and anti-tobacco activists from across the country took part in the conference. This conference's primary objectives were to raise the voice for sustainable tobacco control funding and amendment of tobacco control law for achieving the goal of smoke-free Bangladesh by 2040. A number of articles were presented in four sessions on the financing and amendment of the existing TC Law and its implementation, increase of taxes on tobacco products, control of tobacco cultivation, and protection of public health…
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Tobacco companies are obstructing the implementation of different laws and policies of the country. The Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance and the WBB Trust organized a demonstration program in front of the Shahbagh National Museum on December 9, 2020, demanding legislation to curb the influence of tobacco companies on all public health policies. Speakers at the program said that tobacco companies are obstructing tobacco control activities by influencing government institutions across the country including the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ministry of Law. In the past, there has been a clear interference of tobacco companies behind the delay in the enactment…
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The Department of Medical Health Education will take effective initiatives to control tobacco in compliance with the Tobacco Control Law, World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-FCTC, and the implementation of the 'Tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040' suffixes promised by the Hon'ble Prime Minister. Professor Dr. AHM Enayet Hossain, Director General of the Department of Health Education, made the remarks while addressing a view exchange meeting titled "Formulation of Code of Conduct for Implementation of FCTC Article 5.3" at the meeting room of the Department of Health Education in Mohakhali on November 30, 2020, at 11 am. Meanwhile, representatives of private and international organizations called on the Director-General of the Department of Health Education to take initiative…
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Increasing the prices and reducing the affordability of tobacco and tobacco products have been proven to be the most efficient and cost-effective instrument for controlling tobacco consumption. This way, the overall use of tobacco can be reduced and the government’s revenue can be increased manifold. Owing to the complex and defective tobacco tax system, however, Bangladesh hasn’t been able to implement any notable tobacco control measures yet. Therefore, the necessity of a comprehensive ‘National Tobacco Tax Policy’ has become essential. This has been stated by the speakers on (25 Nov. 2020, 16:00) at an international webinar entitled “Trends in Tobacco Taxation in South East Asia, with a special focus on Bangladesh.” Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax Policy…
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Speakers at an event urged the government to formulate specific guidelines to keep tobacco control policies free from the influence of tobacco companies. Leaders of the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance and the Work for Better Bangladesh Trust made the plea at a human chain held in the city on Wednesday. More than 50 people from eight anti-tobacco organisations participated in the event. The speakers said tobacco companies have been disseminating misinformation to the government to prevent the enactment of tobacco control laws and surcharge policies, to bar the amendment of relevant laws, prevent the raising of taxes, and also obstruct the implementation of various policies on tobacco control. Despite various steps taken by the government to control tobacco,…
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It is time to take steps to stop tobacco companies from interfering in public health laws and policies. In the present situation, in the light of the International Tobacco Control Agreement (FCTC), it is very important to formulate a specific guideline in this regard and formulate a code of conduct on how government officials / employees should treat tobacco companies. Speakers expressed this view in a virtual meeting this (October 9, 2020) afternoon on the occasion of National No Tobacco Day-2020. Eight-divisional ‘Zoom Meeting’ was held titled “Resist Tobacco Company Interference in All Public Health Policies” by informing about the implementation of tobacco control laws at the local level this year, tax hikes and the impact of tobacco companies in controlling tobacco…
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FCTC Article 5.3, an international covenant, emphasizes the protection of tobacco control policies. The Department of Health is playing a vital role in implementing the steps taken to strengthen the immune system of the people of the state and to develop the health system. To accelerate infectious disease and tobacco control programs the officials of the Department of Health need to have a clear and acceptable code of conduct. 5 October, 2020 at 2:00 pm the speakers expressed their views at an exchange meeting titled 'Preparation of Code of Conduct for Implementation of FCTC Article 5.3’ in the conference room of the new building of the Department of Health. The meeting was jointly organized by the…
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Tobacco companies are putting 'death knell' at people's hands. Not only that, they are delaying in formulating helpful policies in public health development and creating obstacles in implementing these policies. Tobacco companies must be strictly regulated so that the policies and initiatives taken in the public interest are not harmed. For this, proper implementation of existing laws and supporting policies should be formulated. Speakers said the above issues during a meeting entitled as “Intervention of Tobacco Company in Policy: In context of Bangladesh” organized by the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance on Tuesday, November 26 at noon in Rayerbazar, Dhaka. Sushanta Kumar Singha, special correspondent of Jamuna TV and tobacco control researcher presented an article in the meeting. Helal Ahmed, general secretary…
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Most of the population consists of youth, aging 10-24, in Bangladesh. Tobacco companies target youths to get long term consumers. They are trying to influence ministries and government officials to weaken the policies. Ministry of Agriculture, National Bureau of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industries and Ministry of Commerce should prepare a road map to reduce tobacco cultivation and become less dependent financially on tobacco companies. It is not expected to favor tobacco companies and violate tobacco control law of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. On 28th October 2019, Bangladesh anti Tobacco Alliance (BATA) organized a press conference on ‘Stop Tobacco Companies Influence on Policies to Protect Youths’ and speakers opined such in the program.…
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