A representative team of Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission met with Former Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) Advocate Kazi Firoz Rashid recently. During the meeting an elaborative discussion was made regarding the loopholes in the current Tobacco Control Law and highlighted the urgency of law amendment. The discussion was led by Assistant Director of Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission Md. Mukhlesur Rahman. As per the discussion the Honorble MP has agreed to the proposals.
Advocate Kazi Firoz Rashid, MP said, “It is through different kinds of display, sponsorship and promotional activities that children and youth are being allured towards electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) and this kind of products. This also drives them towards other kinds of harmful addictive substances which are very harmful for the body and the economy is losing a productive workforce at the same time.
To save the youth from these tobacco addictions the current tobacco control law needs amendment and e-cigarette needs to be banned in the country. Besides, law has to be amended regarding product display by changing the loopholes in the existing law. These loopholes in the law are also obstructing the implementation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s declaration to make Bangladesh a tobacco free country”.
Media Manager of Tobacco Control Project of Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission Muhammed Rubayet and Senior Program Officer Sharmeen Rahman were also present during the meeting. Information and proposals regarding amendment of Tobacco Control Law were handed over to the MP at the time of the meeting.
The proposals were: 1) Banning of smoking zone to ensure completely smoke free at public places (restaurants) and public transports 2) Banning of tobacco product display at point of sale 3)Banning of import, marketing and sales of e-cigarette and like other emerging tobacco products 4) Ban single stick of bidi-cigarette or loose cigarettes and ban sales of Jorda-Gul 5) Ban of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSRs) activities of Tobacco Companies 6) Increase the size of the pictorial health warnings from 50% to 90% and demand for introducing plain packaging of all forms of tobacco products.
