Speakers at a discussion said the role of police forces is very important for successful enforcement of the tobacco control act for protecting the public health from various diseases caused by the consumption of tobacco products.
” Gross violation of the existing tobacco control act continues in restricted areas, including public places, threatening public health,” they told at a workshop held recently at Police In-service Training Center in Rajshahi. Association for Community Development (ACD), a rights-based non-government entity, organised the workshop styled “prevention of smoking and drug-addiction and health protection” in order to create awareness among the policemen.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Muhammad Shahidullah, Superintendent of Rajshahi Divisional Police Hospital Dr Nazrul Islam and ACD Programme Officer Krishna Rani Biswash addressed the meeting as resource persons with Additional Superintendent of Police Kamrun Nahar in the chair. Shariful Islam Shamim, Advocacy Officer of ACD in his concept paper presentation, narrated various harms of smoking and uses of other tobacco products.
He said imposing restrictions on smoking in public places and transports is very important for protecting many non-smokers from various chronic diseases caused by smoking.
He said forging a social movement has become an urgent need for ensuring hundred percent smoke-free public places and transports for freeing millions of passive smokers from various harmful effects. Dr Nazrul Islam said the uses of tobacco items cause many non-communicable diseases like cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis and chronic respiratory disorder. He said some tobacco companies are expanding their market through promotional activities in the name of corporate social responsibilities, which must be resisted.
