Staff Reporter :
Although all kinds of advertising and promotion of tobacco products are prohibited by law, some companies are encouraging people about their products through alternative ways, said a research finding.
The companies are setting sales targets for retailers and recognizing the best sellers as their listed partners. They also give awards and attractive gifts, like essential home appliances, beds, almirah, bicycles, pressure cookers, blenders, and luxury items like gold coins, LED TV, air conditioner, refrigerator, and gift vouchers based on their sales performance.
The companies also offer “Best Seller” awards each year for top performers. Both British American Tobacco (BAT) and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) offer incentives, such as celebratory dinners and free trips at home and abroad for dealers, wholesalers, and vendors.
They are enticing and inducing restaurant owners to establish Designated Smoking Area (DSA) and display advertisements
for tobacco products. The findings were shared by Voice, a non government anti-tobacco organization, in a program held on Wednesday at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) in the capital.
Former Health Minister and Chairman for the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Science and Technology Prof Dr AFM Ruhal Haque was present at the event as the chief guest. Awami League central leader Ashim Kumar Ukil, Additional Secretary & Coordinator of NTCC Hossen Ali Khandokar and lead policy adviser of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) Mostafizur Rahman were also present on the occasion.
The event was presided over by CEO of TV Today Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul and Executive Director of VOICE Ahmed Swapan Mahmud moderated the event.
The research said that restaurants of the high-end areas of the capital were found with sign or logo of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB).
It also said, 73 percent restaurants have displayed tobacco advertisements at the designated smoking zones and 27 percent restaurants have displayed advertisement at the entrance or the exit point.
Tobacco companies offer one-time cash benefits to restaurant owners for displaying these advertising materials and maintaining it. For displaying the advertisements, 60 per cent of the restaurants have made written agreement and 40 percent has oral agreement with the tobacco companies.
