Ban tobacco farming in hilly region
Demand NGOs
Different non-government organisations demanded that the government ban tobacco farming in the hilly regions to increase crop production and also save the environment, a press release said yesterday.
Speakers at a sit-in, organised by Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance, also urged necessary steps to execute the high court's directives issued for stop of tobacco farming and removal of chimneys from the hilly areas.
A number of NGOs staged the sit-in in front of Jatiya Press Club, demanding end of tobacco farming in the hilly regions so that more food grains can be produced in freed farmland, and the environment can be protected.
The speakers said tobacco product manufacturers use firewood to dry tobacco leaves, destroying forests and jeopardising wildlife.
The huge amount of pesticides, used in tobacco farms, gets mixed with the river water, posing threats to fish and other aquatic life forms, they added.
Helal Ahmed, secretary of Protayasa; AM Mohidul Islam, vice-president of National Non-Smoker Forum; Abul Hasan, founder of Bangladesh Sangjukta Sramik Federation took part in the sit-in among others.
The programme was presided over by Ibnul Syed Rana, chairman of Nirapod Development Foundation.
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