Integrated efforts of all government and non-government entities can be the best way of strengthening the anti-tobacco campaign to protect people from various non-communicable diseases due to both active and passive smoking.
Utmost emphasis should be laid on highlighting health and other risks associated with tobacco use apart from advocating for effective policy to cut tobacco consumption.
Administrative officials and law enforcers came up with the observation while addressing a post-rally discussion in the city on Friday.
The divisional and district administrations organised the discussion at the office conference hall of Divisional Commissioner in observance of the World No Tobacco Day-2024.
The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2024 is 'Protecting Children From Tobacco Industry Interference.' This year's theme aims to protect young people and urges the tobacco industry to stop targeting the young population with products that are harmful to their health.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir addressed the meeting as chief guest with Additional Commissioner Mohinul Hassan in the chair.
Additional Commissioner Tarafder Muhammad Akter Jamil welcomed the participants giving an illustration on aspects of the Day.
Imposing restrictions on smoking in public places and transports is very important for protecting many non-smokers from various non-communicable diseases caused by smoking.
Use of tobacco items causes many non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis and chronic respiratory disorder.
Divisional Director of Local Government Parvej Raihan, Additional Superintendent of Police Anwar Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Bibhuti Bhushan Banerjee and Additional Superintendent of Police Abu Saleh Muhammad Ashraful Islaml and President of Rajshahi Press Club Saidur Rahman also spoke.
Commissioner Jafarullah highlighted the risks of tobacco on health and called for full-length enforcement of the tobacco control law to cut tobacco use in the country.
He urged all to take comprehensive measures to raise voice against tobacco use to build a tobacco-free society.
Commissioner Dr Humayun Kabir also said the government has amended the law to make it more stringent because of growing tobacco use in the country. As per the law, the selling of cigarettes to those below 18 has been banned.
He said mobile courts should be conducted against all sorts of violations of the law, adding that all the district administrations should supplement Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's announcement of freeing the country from tobacco use by 2040.
