'Frame tobacco control act with provision of tougher measures'
Health experts at a workshop yesterday urged the government to quickly pass the amended version of the tobacco control act 2005 in parliament with provisions of tougher measures to cut use of tobacco products.
The inaugural session of the workshop titled “The Role of Media for Tobacco Control in Bangladesh” was organised by National Tobacco Control Cell of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at Biam Foundation in the city.
Prof Dr Arup Ratan Choudhury, fellow of World Health Organization (WHO), said 57,000 people die from diseases related to tobacco use while 3,82,000 become disabled in Bangladesh yearly.
Risk of a premature death doubles for diabetic smokers, he said, adding that 25 lakh people picked up the habit in the last five years in Bangladesh.
Arup, a member of National Taskforce for Tobacco Control, said 35 percent of casualties in developed countries are from tobacco use while it is 50 percent in developing countries.
He said 35 percent of women in Bangladesh are victims of passive smoking at workplace while 21 percent are affected at public places
Moreover, 98 percent of drug addicts are smokers while 44 percent are linked with different crimes, he added.
The ministry's Additional Secretary AKM Amir Hossain, speaking as the chief guest, said they hoped that the amended act would be soon placed in the cabinet for approval.
Advocacy and Media Coordinator (Bangladesh) for Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids, Taifur Rahman, urged the government to steadily increase tax on tobacco products.
WHO Project Manager-Tobacco Control Md Amin Ul Ahsan said the government's budgetary allocation for tobacco control is going to increase.
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