Integrated efforts imperative to check tobacco use

Sylhet Bureau :

The World No Tobacco Day was observed in Sylhet under the theme ‘Tobacco Free Environment, Healthy Bangladesh’.
A rally was brought out in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Wednesday. Later, a discussion meeting was held in the Conference Room of the District Administration.
Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Dr Muhammed Musarraf Hussain spoke as the chief guest.
Director of Sylhet Divisional Health Dr Shariful Hasan, Additional Police commissioner of SMP Mahfuza Akther Shimul, Deputy civil surgeon of Sylhet Dr Jonmejoy Datta, Medical officer of Sylhet Civil surgeon Dr Shopnil Showrav Ray and Dr Sazzadur Rahman also Spoke the meeting.
Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Md Mojibor Rahman Presided over the meeting.
Officials of various district level offices, journalists, teachers and students of various schools were present in the discussion meeting.
BSS from Shariatpur reports : -It is the high time to create social awareness and make people aware of dangers and health risks associated with consumption of smoking and smokeless tobacco products for saving many human lives.
Officials and experts viewed this today at a training program on ‘Implementation of Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act-2005 at the office of the Deputy Commissioner here in the city.
The District Administration and Civil Surgeon Office here jointly organised the training programme in observance of the World No Tobacco Day- 2023 with the theme “Grow Food, Not Tobacco” here as elsewhere across the country.
Members of the District Tobacco Control Law Enforcement Task-force Committee, officials and representatives of different government departments and NGOs, politicians, civil society members and professionals participated in the program
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Chitralekha Nazneen formally inaugurated the observance by leading a rally on the city streets from her office premises.
Later, the DC attended the training program as chief guest with Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Jahangir Kabir in the chair. Superintendent of Police (SP) of Rangpur Md Ferdous Ali Chowdhury addressed the program as a special guest.
Deputy Director (Local Government) of Rangpur Most Zilufa Sultana, Additional District Magistrate Md. Rezaul Karim, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Ruhul Amin, Convener of Rangpur City Awami League Dr. Md. Delwar Hossain, among others, addressed the programme.
Taking part in the open session, the speakers discussed ruthless consequences of consumption of smoking and smokeless tobacco products citing that every sixth adult death is being caused by tobacco attributed diseases in the country.
Due to lack of awareness, thousands of people are being affected by indirect smoking alongside causing huge losses to the public health, economy and environment by production, processing and consumption of tobacco products.
They called for ensuring strict enforcement of the amended Tobacco Control Act (TCA), Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act and Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Rules by a section of tobacco companies.
The Civil Surgeon said many people are dying from tobacco attributed diseases and many others becoming patients of lung cancer, cerebra-vascular, coronary artery, chronic obstructive pulmonary and other tobacco-attributable diseases across the country.
The chief guest stressed on popularizing cultivation of substitute crops to tobacco to enhance food production and saving many lives on the way to attain the sustainable development goals by 2030 for building a developed Bangladesh by 2041 next.
BSS from Habiganj says: The World No Tobacco Day-2023 was observed in the district in a befitting manner highlighting the health and other risks associated with tobacco consumption and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption on Wednesday.
This year’s theme of the day is “Grow Food, Not Tobacco”.
The aim of this theme is to raise awareness about alternative crop production and marketing opportunities for tobacco farmers and encourage them to grow sustainable, nutritious crops.
On the occasion, a rally was brought out from the deputy commissioner’s office which paraded the important streets Wednesday morning. The district administration also arranged a discussion at the conference room of the deputy commissioner office this morning while Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) of Sylhet division Devjit Sinha addressed the function as the chief guest with deputy commissioner (DC) Deputy Commissioner Ishrat Jahan in the chair.
Zila Parishad Chief Executive Officer Nurul Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mintu Chowdhury, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Rafiqul Alam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Sadikur Rahman, Additional District Magistrate Priyanka Pal, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Mukhleshur Rahman Ujjal, among others, spoke on the occasion.
The speakers emphasized on creating awareness to prevent tobacco consumption and executing the laws and regulations properly to save the young generation.
BSS from Rajshhai adds: The integrated efforts of all government and non-government entities concerned can be the crucial means of strengthening the anti-tobacco campaign for protecting many people from various non communicable diseases from both active and passive smoking.
Utmost emphasis should be given 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 today.
Divisional and District administrations jointly organised the meeting at the office conference hall of Divisional Commissioner in observance of the World No Tobacco Day-2023.
This year’s theme of the day is “Grow Food, Not Tobacco”. This theme aims to raise awareness about alternative crop production and marketing opportunities for tobacco farmers and encourage them to grow sustainable, nutritious crops.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division GSM Jafarullah addressed the meeting as chief guest with Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed in the chair. Additional Commissioner Dr Mokshed Ali 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 Enamul Haque, Additional Commissioner Imtiaz Hossain, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Shamsun Nahar, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police Naresh Chakmaand Deputy Director of Department of Narcotics Control Alamgir Hossain 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 Zafarullah also said the government has amended the law to make it more stringent because of growing tobacco use in the country.