Ehsanul Haque Jasim :
The tobacco companies are now active to foil the move for passing the Tobacco Control Rules. The amendment of the ‘Tobacco Control Law’ was also reportedly delayed due to their lobbying.
The draft of the ‘Tobacco Control Rules’, finalised by the Health Ministry, had been sent to the Law Ministry few months ago for their action, said sources of the Ministry.
Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, Director of Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, said that the tobacco companies were lobbying strongly against the move, fearing loss of income.
Amid strong demand of anti-tobacco activists and organisation, the present government passed the amendment of the ‘Tobacco Control Law’ in the Parliament in April, 2013.
According to the latest Tobacco Control Law, all kinds of advertisement of tobacco products, promotions and sponsorship (TAPS) are now banned. But still tobacco advertisements are visible due to loopholes of law. It is necessary to punish the offenders for proper implementation of tobacco control law. If the Rules under the law are passed, it will be easy to take action against the violators of the law.
Aminul Islam Sujon of Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance said that now the government should approve the ‘Tobacco Control Rules’ under the tobacco law soon to reduce the tobacco-related death.
He also said that the Graphic Health Warnings (GHW) on tobacco packets are the most effective tools for awareness about the danger of the tobacco use. To ensure GHW on the tobacco packets; the Tobacco Control Rules should be passed soon. The tobacco companies are continuing their advertisements, promotions and sponsorship due the absence of the Rules.
The tobacco companies are now active to foil the move for passing the Tobacco Control Rules. The amendment of the ‘Tobacco Control Law’ was also reportedly delayed due to their lobbying.
The draft of the ‘Tobacco Control Rules’, finalised by the Health Ministry, had been sent to the Law Ministry few months ago for their action, said sources of the Ministry.
Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, Director of Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, said that the tobacco companies were lobbying strongly against the move, fearing loss of income.
Amid strong demand of anti-tobacco activists and organisation, the present government passed the amendment of the ‘Tobacco Control Law’ in the Parliament in April, 2013.
According to the latest Tobacco Control Law, all kinds of advertisement of tobacco products, promotions and sponsorship (TAPS) are now banned. But still tobacco advertisements are visible due to loopholes of law. It is necessary to punish the offenders for proper implementation of tobacco control law. If the Rules under the law are passed, it will be easy to take action against the violators of the law.
Aminul Islam Sujon of Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance said that now the government should approve the ‘Tobacco Control Rules’ under the tobacco law soon to reduce the tobacco-related death.
He also said that the Graphic Health Warnings (GHW) on tobacco packets are the most effective tools for awareness about the danger of the tobacco use. To ensure GHW on the tobacco packets; the Tobacco Control Rules should be passed soon. The tobacco companies are continuing their advertisements, promotions and sponsorship due the absence of the Rules.
