News Desk :
The Health Ministry has ordered a temporary suspension on production, supply, marketing, and sale of all kinds of tobacco products to gear up the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
Khairul Alam Shekh, joint secretary of Health Ministry issued the order on Tuesday with the power of ‘The Communicable Diseases (Prevention, Control and Eradication) law, 2018’.
In the order, the Health Ministry said World Health Organization (WHO) discourages the use of tobacco related product as tobacco use is considered to increase the possibility of Covid-19 transmission.
Research also said Covid-19 infection can cause serious harm to smokers. A Covid-19 infected smoker’s risk of death is also 14 times more than a non-smoker.
India and some other countries suspended tobacco production temporarily after the coronavirus outbreak. Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh is also deteriorating day by day.
“For the betterment of public health, the ministry has suspended tobacco related products temporarily,” the order reads.
Saber hossain Chowdhury earlier sent a letter to the Health Ministry to take action regarding the tobacco situation in the country.
On temporary ban of tobacco, Saber said: “It’s heartening to see public health being given priority and importance. Every day about 500 people die in Bangladesh due to tobacco use. We want to see the end of this silent killer for good and make Bangladesh Tobacco free in shortest possible time. Much more needs to be done but this is a solid beginning.”
The Health ministry also sought support of Ministry of Industries regarding this order, as the tobacco factories are under Industries Ministry.
