‘Involve student community in anti-tobacco activism’
UNB, Dhaka :
National Professor Dr MR Khan on Saturday suggested that school and college students should be involved in the movement to contain the tobacco menace by arming them with adequate information and knowledge about the health risks of tobacco so that they in turn can spread the message and pass on the knowledge acquired to the vulnerable groups – the poor and the young.
The eminent paediatrician made the appeal at a discussion programme on WHO theme ‘Stop Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products’ jointly organised by ADHUNIK (We Prevent Smoking), a national anti-tobacco organisation, and WHO at the Jatiya Press Club.
Noting that smoking and consumption of tobacco products cause respiratory problems, neurological disorders, kidney damages and brain stroke, Prof Dr MR Khan said the treatment of the tobacco-related diseases is very costly, though tobacco is a leading preventable cause of death and diseases.
He stressed that the will and determination of smokers is enough to give up the habit. As proof of this, he said during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan Muslims fast the whole day from dawn to dusk refraining from smoking, drinking and taking food which demonstrates that the smokers have the power to quit smoking.
He expressed the hope that the illicit trade in tobacco products in the country will be stopped through concerted efforts of all.
ADHUNIK President Amanullah Khan said in his address because of the illicit trade involving tax evasion, tobacco products are available for sale in the market at cheaper prices which allure and attract especially the young and low-income people while at the same time this type of trade leads to reduction of revenue to the government. The money so stolen by tobacco companies end up in the hands of organised criminal syndicates, drug and human traffickers and terrorists.
“Although Bangladesh is a signatory to WHO FCTC, it cannot ratify the international protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products as the country is not yet able and ready to fulfill the condition of instituting a tracking system whereby to monitor and track down the illicit trade due to what the National Tobacco Control Cell of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare says lack of manpower and logistics in the organisation,” Khan elucidated.
He, however, holds the view that in this digital era with computer networking, installing and operating the tracking system should not prove to be a tall order.
The ADHUNIK president lamented that despite a ban on new investment and product development in the tobacco sector, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has recently been signed between a local tobacco company and a multinational tobacco giant allowing foreign investment to be pumped into the regulated sector.
Smokeless tobacco has been defined as a tobacco product under the ‘Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2013’ as both the smoke and smokeless tobacco are equally injurious to health, the anti-tobacco activist told the audience.
“Its use is a social custom ingrained in our rural culture that underlines the need for creating an awareness among the public against its use because of its disastrous health consequences,” Khan said adding that as this type of tobacco remains mostly in the non-formal sector, efforts should be made to bring it under the formal sector and under tax net in the same way as smoking tobacco.
The ADHUNIK chief mentioned that the WHO in the early 1980’s identified tobacco as an addictive drug as it contains not only carcinogenous and toxic chemicals but also nicotine that creates addiction in the users.
He called upon the authorities to declare tobacco as an addictive drug to enable the Department of Narcotics Control to treat tobacco addiction like the illicit drug offenders.
Hiding under the cloak of corporate social responsibility (CSR), tobacco companies carry on extensive promotional activities indirectly that violates the spirit of the law, the UNB chairman asserted.
The anti-tobacco campaigner further pointed out that in 2010 the tobacco industry in the US was reported to have spent 16.6 million on lobbyists to represent the industry to the US Congress.
“The total money entailed in tobacco control around the world represents a tiny fraction of the budget of the tobacco industry for promoting its products worldwide. Little wonder anti-tobacco organizations’ strength and might apparently shrinks into insignificance in comparison with the clout and influence wielded by tobacco manufacturers,” he said.
The ADHUNIK president observed, “A string of lawsuits have been brought against the tobacco companies in the US courts holding them liable for the death and health damages suffered by the victims of tobacco and claiming compensation from the companies. While a number of such cases have been won by the plaintiff victims, the decisions in a vast majority of the cases have gone in favour of the defendant tobacco companies on the grounds of jurisdiction and other law points.”
He strongly pleaded that there should be similar provisions in the country’s statute to enable the victims file litigations which will not only act as a deterrent to tobacco companies, but also have a publicity value for the anti-tobacco lobby in the country.
Dr. Mostafa Zaman, national professional officer, WHO, Dhaka claimed that the rate of tobacco consumption in Bangladesh has come down to some extent but the tobacco business has gone up in step with the population growth in the country.
He elaborated if the profit has improved so has the government revenue through tax. Dr. Zaman emphasised the tax rate has to be raised further but it should be ensured that the increase in tax goes to the government coffers instead of it going mostly into the pockets of tobacco companies.
He expressed dismay that in disregard to the regulation, most workplaces and many hospitals have not been made tobacco-free. He, however, predicted hat Bangladesh is in course to meet the deadline set by WHO for banning tobacco by the year 2040.
Prof. Dr. M. Jalaluddin, a reputed heart specialist, expressed disappointment that tobacco use is not declining but rising in Bangladesh, though there has been a decrease among the educated class.
He said it was unfortunate that some people go on smoking knowing fully well that tobacco is harmful. Apart from heart diseases, lung cancer and other crippling diseases tobacco causes brain stroke, the veteran physician pointed out.
Dr. Nina Islam, also an experienced cardiologist and social welfare secretary of ADHUNIK, in her address explained that what begins as a habit becomes a bad habit and later degenerates into an addictive habit transmitted to the receptors in the brain that falls under the total influence of tobacco.
Among others, Dr. Tajul Islam, ADHUNIK Patenga Branch, Md. Shahjahan, President, ADHUNIK Chandpur Branch, M.A Jabbar, executive secretary ADHUNIK, Ali Neyamat and M. Safiuddin, members ADHUNIK also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier in the morning, ADHUNIK staged an anti-tobacco rally in front of the National Press Club in observance of WNTD displaying banners, shouting anti-tobacco slogans, making speeches denouncing tobacco and demanding its total ban in Bangladesh. The rally was led by Amanullah Khan and participated, among others, by M.A. Jabbar and ADHUNIK members from districts. It was later joined by national Prof. Dr.
National Professor Dr MR Khan on Saturday suggested that school and college students should be involved in the movement to contain the tobacco menace by arming them with adequate information and knowledge about the health risks of tobacco so that they in turn can spread the message and pass on the knowledge acquired to the vulnerable groups – the poor and the young.
The eminent paediatrician made the appeal at a discussion programme on WHO theme ‘Stop Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products’ jointly organised by ADHUNIK (We Prevent Smoking), a national anti-tobacco organisation, and WHO at the Jatiya Press Club.
Noting that smoking and consumption of tobacco products cause respiratory problems, neurological disorders, kidney damages and brain stroke, Prof Dr MR Khan said the treatment of the tobacco-related diseases is very costly, though tobacco is a leading preventable cause of death and diseases.
He stressed that the will and determination of smokers is enough to give up the habit. As proof of this, he said during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan Muslims fast the whole day from dawn to dusk refraining from smoking, drinking and taking food which demonstrates that the smokers have the power to quit smoking.
He expressed the hope that the illicit trade in tobacco products in the country will be stopped through concerted efforts of all.
ADHUNIK President Amanullah Khan said in his address because of the illicit trade involving tax evasion, tobacco products are available for sale in the market at cheaper prices which allure and attract especially the young and low-income people while at the same time this type of trade leads to reduction of revenue to the government. The money so stolen by tobacco companies end up in the hands of organised criminal syndicates, drug and human traffickers and terrorists.
“Although Bangladesh is a signatory to WHO FCTC, it cannot ratify the international protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products as the country is not yet able and ready to fulfill the condition of instituting a tracking system whereby to monitor and track down the illicit trade due to what the National Tobacco Control Cell of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare says lack of manpower and logistics in the organisation,” Khan elucidated.
He, however, holds the view that in this digital era with computer networking, installing and operating the tracking system should not prove to be a tall order.
The ADHUNIK president lamented that despite a ban on new investment and product development in the tobacco sector, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has recently been signed between a local tobacco company and a multinational tobacco giant allowing foreign investment to be pumped into the regulated sector.
Smokeless tobacco has been defined as a tobacco product under the ‘Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2013’ as both the smoke and smokeless tobacco are equally injurious to health, the anti-tobacco activist told the audience.
“Its use is a social custom ingrained in our rural culture that underlines the need for creating an awareness among the public against its use because of its disastrous health consequences,” Khan said adding that as this type of tobacco remains mostly in the non-formal sector, efforts should be made to bring it under the formal sector and under tax net in the same way as smoking tobacco.
The ADHUNIK chief mentioned that the WHO in the early 1980’s identified tobacco as an addictive drug as it contains not only carcinogenous and toxic chemicals but also nicotine that creates addiction in the users.
He called upon the authorities to declare tobacco as an addictive drug to enable the Department of Narcotics Control to treat tobacco addiction like the illicit drug offenders.
Hiding under the cloak of corporate social responsibility (CSR), tobacco companies carry on extensive promotional activities indirectly that violates the spirit of the law, the UNB chairman asserted.
The anti-tobacco campaigner further pointed out that in 2010 the tobacco industry in the US was reported to have spent 16.6 million on lobbyists to represent the industry to the US Congress.
“The total money entailed in tobacco control around the world represents a tiny fraction of the budget of the tobacco industry for promoting its products worldwide. Little wonder anti-tobacco organizations’ strength and might apparently shrinks into insignificance in comparison with the clout and influence wielded by tobacco manufacturers,” he said.
The ADHUNIK president observed, “A string of lawsuits have been brought against the tobacco companies in the US courts holding them liable for the death and health damages suffered by the victims of tobacco and claiming compensation from the companies. While a number of such cases have been won by the plaintiff victims, the decisions in a vast majority of the cases have gone in favour of the defendant tobacco companies on the grounds of jurisdiction and other law points.”
He strongly pleaded that there should be similar provisions in the country’s statute to enable the victims file litigations which will not only act as a deterrent to tobacco companies, but also have a publicity value for the anti-tobacco lobby in the country.
Dr. Mostafa Zaman, national professional officer, WHO, Dhaka claimed that the rate of tobacco consumption in Bangladesh has come down to some extent but the tobacco business has gone up in step with the population growth in the country.
He elaborated if the profit has improved so has the government revenue through tax. Dr. Zaman emphasised the tax rate has to be raised further but it should be ensured that the increase in tax goes to the government coffers instead of it going mostly into the pockets of tobacco companies.
He expressed dismay that in disregard to the regulation, most workplaces and many hospitals have not been made tobacco-free. He, however, predicted hat Bangladesh is in course to meet the deadline set by WHO for banning tobacco by the year 2040.
Prof. Dr. M. Jalaluddin, a reputed heart specialist, expressed disappointment that tobacco use is not declining but rising in Bangladesh, though there has been a decrease among the educated class.
He said it was unfortunate that some people go on smoking knowing fully well that tobacco is harmful. Apart from heart diseases, lung cancer and other crippling diseases tobacco causes brain stroke, the veteran physician pointed out.
Dr. Nina Islam, also an experienced cardiologist and social welfare secretary of ADHUNIK, in her address explained that what begins as a habit becomes a bad habit and later degenerates into an addictive habit transmitted to the receptors in the brain that falls under the total influence of tobacco.
Among others, Dr. Tajul Islam, ADHUNIK Patenga Branch, Md. Shahjahan, President, ADHUNIK Chandpur Branch, M.A Jabbar, executive secretary ADHUNIK, Ali Neyamat and M. Safiuddin, members ADHUNIK also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier in the morning, ADHUNIK staged an anti-tobacco rally in front of the National Press Club in observance of WNTD displaying banners, shouting anti-tobacco slogans, making speeches denouncing tobacco and demanding its total ban in Bangladesh. The rally was led by Amanullah Khan and participated, among others, by M.A. Jabbar and ADHUNIK members from districts. It was later joined by national Prof. Dr.
