74.8pc tobacco products sold without pictorial warnings

Around 74.8 percent of tobacco products are being marketed without any pictorial health warnings, violating law, according to a study.

Thirteen anti-tobacco organisations, which conducted a survey in eight divisional towns, revealed it yesterday.

According to the relevant law, no tobacco products can be marketed without pictorial warnings after March 19, 2016, and doing so is a punishable offence.

Hasan Shahriyar, project coordinator of Progga, presented the findings at the capital's Jatiya Press Club.

Progga, ACD, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, BCCP, Shimantik, Ubinig, Ipsha, National Heart Foundation, EC Bangladesh, WBBTrust, Pratyasha, Aid Foundation, and Natab, conducted the study from April 4 to 7 on 1,485 tobacco products.

Number of packets of Biri with pictorial health warnings was nil while 55.3 percent cigarette, 91.6 percent Jarda pot and 87.9 percent Gul were found without pictorial warnings, it revealed.

Among six cigarette manufacturers, four are supplying their products without pictorial warnings while 14 jarda factories out of 100 and one gul factory out of 13 are using the pictorial warning.

When asked about the study, Zahid Malik, state minister for health, told The Daily Star that actions will be taken against those who violate the law.

The speakers recommended that at least 50 percent of the packet should have a pictorial warning.

The government should fine the companies for violating law and introduce mobile courts to ensure its implementation, they said.

According to the law, the penalty is up to Tk 2 lakh or six-month imprisonment or both.

National Prof Brigadier (retd) Abdul Malik, also founder and president of the National Heart Foundation, observed that most patients who come to the hospital suffer from diseases related to smoking such as cancer, heart and lung diseases etc.

Pictorial warning is extremely important as it creates a negative image against smoking, he added.

Shafiqul Islam, country adviser of Vital Strategies, advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam, technical adviser of The Union, Helal Ahmed, general secretary of Pratyasha and Dr Fahfuzul Haque Bhuiyan, grants manager, campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, also spoke.