Demand to declare National No Tobacco Day officially and Ban e-cigarette considering well being of future generation - The Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco AllianceThe Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance

Demand to declare National No Tobacco Day officially and Ban e-cigarette considering well being of future generation

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) with the demand of declaring National No Tobacco Day officially and banning e-cigarette in Bangladesh.

The campaign was jointly organized by Aid Foundation, ACD, ARK Foundation, BCCP, CAB, Grambangla Unnayan Committee, NATAB, Pratyasha Anti-Drug Club, TCRC, YPSA and WBB Trust. This year the theme of National No Tobacco Day is ‘E-cigarettes should be banned in Bangladesh’. Speakers said that, BATA and other organizations working on tobacco control have been celebrating 9th October as National No Tobacco Day since 2011. This year they have also under taken many programs.

The campaign was presided over by General Secretary of Pratyasha Anti-Drug Club Helal Ahmed. Speakers of the program were Film Director Chotku Ahmed, Assistant Director of BCCP Shamimul Islam, Director of WBB Trust Gaous Pearee, Program Manager Syeda Anonna Rahman, Program Manager of YPSA Md. Nazmul Hayder, Project Coordinator of NATAB A.K.M Khalilullah, Chairman of Poribesh Andolon Moncho Amir Hassan, member of National Committee of BAPA Md. Nazimuddin, Information Officer of CAB Anowar Parvez and many more. Besides Md. Selim from Nagorik Odhikar Shongrokkhon Forum, Augustin Mintu Halder from Caritash Bangladesh, Shamima Sultana from Keraniganj Human Resource Development Society, Barani Dalbot and ANM Masum Billah Bhuiyan from IWB including many were present in the campaign. The event was moderated by Tobacco Control Project Manager of ARK Foundation Hamidul Islam Hillol.
Shamimul Islam from BCCP said that, India has already banned e-cigarettes and in USA and many other countries the procedure is continuing. E-cigarette causes health hazard. Usage of it is increasing in an alarming rate in Bangladesh because of false claim by tobacco industries. This is a sheer threat for us.

Chotku Ahmed said that, many initiatives of Bangladesh on tobacco control are praise worthy. We can also achieve success on controlling e-cigarettes. By this we can protect our children from drug addiction.

Helal Ahmed said that, policy oriented initiatives by government has strengthened tobacco control programs in our country. But tobacco companies are conspiring to interrupt the success. To achieve a tobacco free Bangladesh and to keep our success unquestioned, initiatives should be taken to officially declare 9th October as National No Tobacco Day and to ban e-cigarette.

Gaous Pearee said that, tobacco companies are cunningly trying to spread business of e-cigarette in our country. Government should not allow their vicious movement. Effective steps should be taken before e-cigarette causes massive health hazard.