Stronger tobacco control law demanded to protect public health

Tangail Correspondent :

Biri workers, labor leaders, youth activists, journalists, and civil society members formed a human chain in front of the Tangail District Press Club on Wednesday, urging the government to strengthen the country’s tobacco control law. The event, organized by the Development Organization of the Rural Poor (DORP), aimed to protect public health and support the national goal of a tobacco-free Bangladesh.

Speakers at the event, including Nazmul Haque, President of the Tangail Regional Biri Workers’ Union; Shah Alam Miah, General Secretary; union member Joymon Bibi; and journalist Borhan Talukder, shared the challenges faced by biri workers, especially women and children.

They described the occupation as low-paying and dangerous, with workers often suffering from serious health issues due to long-term tobacco exposure. Despite a national decline in biri consumption, many workers remain trapped in the industry due to a lack of alternative employment options.

The speakers condemned the exploitation of marginalized communities under the pretext of providing employment. They stressed the need for urgent reforms to protect vulnerable populations, enforce laws against child labor, and establish sustainable income-generating opportunities for those dependent on biri production.

At the conclusion of the program, a memorandum was submitted to the Tangail Deputy Commissioner. The memorandum, based on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and proposed amendments by the Health Services Division, called for the removal of designated smoking areas in public places and transport, a ban on displaying tobacco products at points of sale, an end to tobacco companies’ CSR activities, protection of children and adolescents from e-cigarettes, a complete ban on the loose and retail sale of tobacco products, and an increase in graphic health warnings on packaging from 50% to 90%.

The Deputy Commissioner expressed solidarity with the demands and assured the participants of his support in advocating for stronger tobacco control laws.

The event concluded with a united call for urgent legislative action to safeguard public health and improve the livelihoods of biri workers.