Khulna: Smoking and the use of tobacco products pose a serious threat to public health, leading to calls for a complete ban on smoking in public places and public transport. This was the key takeaway from a meeting of the Khulna Divisional Taskforce Committee, which convened to address the implementation of the Smoking and Using Tobacco Products (Control) Act 2005 (Amendment 2013), held in the conference room of the Divisional Commissioner.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting was chaired by Additional Divisional Commissioner (Education and ICT) Debprasad Pal, who underscored the necessity for stringent regulation of the production, use, sale, and advertisement of tobacco products. He advocated for enhanced enforcement by mobile courts within 100 meters of educational institutions, parks, and healthcare facilities and stressed the importance of prominently displaying “No Smoking” signage in all public areas and on public transport.
The meeting featured contributions from Additional Divisional Commissioner (Development) Abu Sayed Md. Monjur Alam, Director of the Divisional Social Services Office Anindita Roy, Assistant Director of Khulna Divisional Health Department Dr. Arpana Biswas, and BRTA Director Md. Ziaur Rahman, among others. Kazi Mohammad Hasibul Haque, the Project Director of AID Foundation, presented the keynote paper.
The assembly highlighted alarming statistics, noting that approximately 1,20,000 people die annually in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related illnesses. It was reported that over 7 million individuals aged 30 or above are afflicted with tobacco-related diseases, with about 1.5 million suffering from chronic conditions. Additionally, more than 61,000 children fall victim to passive smoking in their homes, and over 4,35,000 children under the age of 15 are affected by tobacco-related diseases. The meeting was attended by officials from various government departments, NGO representatives, and members of the Divisional Taskforce Committee.