Various domestic and multinational tobacco companies are continuing to advertise and promote tobacco products in more than 30 ways in violation of the Tobacco Control Act. Poor enforcement of the law is further encouraging tobacco companies to break the law. As a result, children and adolescents are being attracted to smoking in aggressive propaganda and tobacco damage and mortality are increasing. This is delaying the process of building a 'tobacco-free Bangladesh' as promised by the Prime Minister. In addition, tobacco companies violating the law need to be strictly controlled to protect the health of the next generation and to implement the promises made by the prime minister. At an exchange meeting with the media on October 3,…
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Bangladesh has to impose a specific tax to prevent the young from consuming tobacco and raise the fine for smoking in public by amending the Tobacco Control Act 2005, speakers said at a webinar on Sunday 18 April 2021. Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) and Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust (WBB) organized the webinar titled “Aggressive Advertising of Tobacco Products: Impact on Youth.” A provision has to be introduced for direct filing of cases in case of violation of the tobacco control law, the speakers added. “Increasing awareness against mandatory, especially at universities and the mass level across the country may play a significant role,” said Farhana Zaman Liza, program manager of the Tobacco Control and Research Cell…
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A discussion meeting titled ‘Implementation of Tobacco Control Laws in Films’ was held on 28th January 2021 Thursday with the joint initiative of the Department of Film and Publication, Bangladesh Film Censor Board, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance and WBB Trust. Md. Jasim Uddin (Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Film Censor Board), Saifuddin Ahmed (Coordinator, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance) and other dignitaries addressed their remarks at the meeting presided by SM Golam Kibria (DG, Department of Film and Publications). Adv. Syed Mahbubul Alam (Technical Advisor, The Union) presented the keynote address at the meeting. Ali Sarkar (Director, Administration, and Publication, Department of Film and Publication), Md. Mominul Haque Jibon (Secretary, Bangladesh Film Censor Board), Nasir Uddin Sheikh (Country Manager, Vital Strategies-Bangladesh), Helal Ahmed (General Secretary, Pratasha Anti-Drug Organization), Film…
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On 27 January 2021 capacity building workshop was organized by AID Foundation's Tobacco Control Project to increase the capacity of LGI personnel and local BATA members on licensing and TAPS ban issues focusing on the Tobacco Control Guideline of the Ministry of Local Government at AID Complex, Jhenaidah. The Special Guest of the workshop was Mr. Md. Ajmul Haque, Secretary (Deputy Secretary) of Khulna City Corporation. Mr. Gazi Kamrul Huda Selim, Mayor, Manikganj Municipality; Mr. Golam Kabir, Mayor, Savar Municipality; Mr. Syed Mahbubul Alam, Technical Advisor, The Union; Mr. Saifuddin Ahmmed, Coordinator BATA, Mr. Hamidul Islam Hillol, Project Manager, Bureau of Economic Research, DU and Ms. Farhana Zaman Liza, Program Manager, TCRC were present virtually in the…
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Divisional Commissioner Office- Dhaka, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance, The Union & Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust jointly organized a meeting titled “Necessity of law implementation to achieve the goal of a tobacco-free Bangladesh” on November 17, 2020 at conference room of the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner's Office. Speaking as the chief guest in the meeting Jebunnesa Begum (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health Services and Health and Family Welfare), said that a roadmap is being prepared with the cooperation of all to implement the declaration made by the Hon'ble Prime Minister to make Bangladesh tobacco free by 2040. In order to implement the promise of building a tobacco-free Bangladesh promised by the Hon'ble Prime Minister, importance will be given to the implementation of…
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Anti-tobacco activists opine at virtual conference task force must be active to enforce tobacco law. The webinar on tobacco law held on Saturday 2 May 2020. Anti-tobacco activists have expressed outrage that advertising and promotion activities of the tobacco companies are continuing during corona virus crisis. They expressed their displeasure at a webinar titled ‘Implementation of Tobacco Control Act at Local Level’. The meeting was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance and the WBB Trust on Saturday 2 May 2020. The speakers said that the government has been working tirelessly to formulate policies to control tobacco use. While these measures are promising, tobacco companies continue to aggressively violate the law in expanding the market…
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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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E-cigarette has been proved harmful by many international researches. But tobacco companies are falsely claiming the opposite and promoting e-cigarettes among youths only to pursue their profit. E-cigarettes should be banned in Bangladesh considering health hazard and to ensure betterment of future generation. Besides to achieve the goal of making ‘Tobacco free Bangladesh’ by 2040, National No Tobacco Day must be declared and celebrated officially by Government along with World No Tobacco Day. Speakers opined such on a campaign organized by Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) today on 09 October 2019, in front of National Press Club to celebrate National No Tobacco Day. Later they put forward a memorandum to the coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC)…
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Tobacco companies promote tobacco products in the name of ‘Battle of Mind’ campaign in various educational institutions. Besides they are installing sell points nearby those. This type of activities are creating obstacle to achieve the goal set by Honorable Prime Minister to make Bangladesh tobacco free by 2040. In this circumstance, it is necessary to stop educational institute oriented activities by tobacco companies. Recently, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and BRAC University have stopped these programs in their premises. Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance and other organizations are working since long to stop ‘Battle of Mind’ campaign by tobacco companies. National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) has already instructed Department of Education and University…
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In Bangladesh, half of the total populations are young. Tobacco companies are launching aggressive promotion of tobacco products by violating tobacco control law to attract young generation in tobacco use. Although the government continued their efforts to implement the Tobacco Control Act, tobacco companies are violating the law and encouraging the people for consuming tobacco products. Potential youths and people of different ages become victims of their profit earning activities. Strict enforcement of law is necessary to ensure “Tobacco-free Bangladesh”. Speakers opined this in a daylong “National Level Workshop on Implementation of Tobacco Control Law & TAPS Ban” held at Samson H. Chowdhury center of Dhaka Club Limited on 20 March 2019. The workshop was organized by Work for a Better…
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