Staff Reporter :
A recent study showed that incessant interference from tobacco industry had put the public health of Bangladesh under substantial risk.
The country’s score in the 2021 Tobacco Industry Interference Index stands at 72 which was 68 last year.
The increase in score suggests a worsening trend in terms of tobacco industry interference.
Due to aggressive activities of tobacco companies during the Covid-19 pandemic, the implementation of World Health Organization (WHO)’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and also the realization of Bangladesh’s own vision of being a tobacco-free country by 2040 are now under threat of being derailed.
Such concerning facts and many more were brought to light on Sunday as the research findings of ‘Tobacco Industry Interference Index: The FCTC Article 5.3 Implementation Report, Bangladesh 2021’ was unveiled in a programme in the capital.
The event jointly organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) at the CIRDAP Auditorium.
The Chief Guest, Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, Forestry and Climate Change, said, “Tobacco is killing more people than Covid-19. Nonetheless, the government is yet to take effective tobacco control measures. The question arises whether the government bodies really hold the spirit of FCTC and the HPM’s vision of a tobacco-free country.”
Eminent Economist and the convener of the National Anti-Tobacco Platform, Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said, “Bangladesh has scored very poor points in the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index. We are the poorest among our South Asian peers. Why did we perform so poorly?”
To improve the situation, he demanded divestment of the government’s share in BATB and reinstatement of 25pc export duty on tobacco.
Prominent Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of TV Today Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said, “Government bodies need to be sensitized so that they do not accept any aid from tobacco industry. Receiving donations from the tobacco industry is a clear violation of FCTC as well as in conflict with the declaration of the Prime Minister.”
The discussants include Dr. Mary Assunta, Head of Global Research and Advocacy, GGTC, Muhammad Shafiqul Islam, Bangladesh Country Advisor, Vital Strategies, Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Coordinator, Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), CTFK, Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Lead Policy Advisor, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Huq, National Professional Officer (NCD), World Health Organization (WHO), Syed Mahbubul Alam, Technical Advisor, The UNION and ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA.
