Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday urged people from all strata of life to conduct campaign in social media against the harmful side of tobacco consumption. “The person who does not smoke, should be awarded,” he said, speaking at a seminar on the progress and obstacle over making Bangladesh tobacco-free. Progotir Jonno Gyan (Progga) and Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance organised the seminar to discuss Global Adult Tobacco Survey, which was revealed last year, at Jatiya Press Club here.
The minister said the number of smokers has decreased in the last 10 years. There are many laws in the country to control tobacco consumption. But the existing laws are not implanted properly. So, everyone should campaign against the bad effect of tobacco in social media along with other campaigns. Hasan, also the publicity and publication secretary of the ruling party, said he does not smoke in his personal life as he promised to his father that he would not smoke in his entire life.
He said, “My father was smoking a lot. Once, a doctor told him not to take cigarette as it causes cancer. Then my father called me and asked me to make promise for not taking any tobacco in future. I also did the promise.” Mentioning the need for combined efforts to build a developed nation, Hasan said it’s not possible to build a developed nation by only meritorious people. It will also need patriotism and aptitude, he added. About the screening of a movie ‘Devi’, he said, “I will look into the matter.”
Health Secretary Asadul Islam addressed the seminar as the special guest while Progga coordinator Hasan Shahriar presented the key-note paper. Bangladesh Institute of Development Research (BIDS) Senior Research Fellow Dr Naznin Ahmed and researcher Dr Mahfuz Kabir, also spoke at the seminar while journalist Nadira Kiran conducted it.
According to the survey, the total tobacco consumption among people aged over 15 was 43.3 percent in 2009 while the ratio was declined to 35.3 percent in 2017.
