Speakers at a discussion in Rajshahi on Sunday unequivocally called for freeing the educational institutions along with their catchment areas from selling of tobacco products to protect the students from its uses.
They mentioned that utmost emphasis should be given on restricting 100 metres surrounding areas of the educational institutions from tobacco selling.
The observations came at a view-sharing meeting to mark the unveiling of findings of a research paper titled “Big Tobacco Tiny Target” at Master Chef Chinese Restaurant in the city.
Association for Community Development (ACD), a rights-based non-government entity, organised the meeting in association with Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK).
Chairman of Rajshahi Education Board Prof Abul Kalam Azad and Chairman of ACD Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan addressed the discussion as the chief and special guests respectively with Dr Shormin Ferdous chowdhury, Divisional Deputy Director of Department of Secondary and Higher Educaton, in the chair.
Medical Officer of Civil Surgeon Office Dr Kamrul Hassan, CTFK Grants Manager Abdus Salam Mian, Programme Officer Ataur Rahman Masud, ACD Tobacco Control Project Manager Shahinur Rahman and Media Manager Amzad Hossain also spoke.
