NN Online :
Public health professionals and cultural figures have voiced grave concern over the rising use of tobacco products among youth, warning that the trend could severely harm both national health and economic stability.
At a discussion organized by MANAS, a leading anti-tobacco and drug prevention NGO, speakers said that the youth — a major segment of the country’s population and its economic backbone — are increasingly falling into the grip of tobacco addiction, driven in part by aggressive marketing from tobacco companies.
“If the young generation becomes addicted to tobacco and drugs, it will damage their productivity and ultimately deal a blow to the economy,” they cautioned.
Currently, 3.78 crore people in Bangladesh use tobacco, with a large proportion being young individuals. The speakers stressed that to harness the youth’s potential, efforts must be made to free them from such addictions.
Tobacco use is also driving up non-communicable diseases (NCDs), now responsible for 67% of deaths in the country. Treating these conditions not only impacts families but also creates a significant economic burden, they noted.
The discussion was held at the BIRDEM auditorium in Dhaka to mark World No Tobacco Day, bringing together medical experts, celebrities, and campaigners.
National Professor Dr. AK Azad Khan, President of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh and Chair of the National Health Reform Commission, served as chief guest. He emphasized the need for strategic actions to counter tobacco companies and urged the inclusion of religious leaders in awareness efforts.
Prof. Dr. Arup Ratan Choudhury, founder president of MANAS, who chaired the event, called for nationwide awareness campaigns, particularly targeting youth, to build a tobacco-free generation.
BIRDEM Director General Prof. Dr. Mirza Mahbubul Hasan stressed the urgency of strong measures against tobacco use, while filmmaker Kazi Hayat advocated for a complete stop to tobacco production alongside mass awareness initiatives.
As part of the programme, citation awards were presented to Kazi Hayat, actor-director Helal Khan, singer Habib Wahid, and the platform Stop Tobacco Bangladesh for their contributions to tobacco control.
Speakers concluded that with collective action, mass awareness, and proper enforcement of laws, a tobacco-free Bangladesh is within reach.
