Khulna Correspondent :
The World No Tobacco Day was observed in Khulna on Saturday, with the theme ‘Exposing the tricks of tobacco companies, building a tobacco and nicotine-free Bangladesh’.
Divisional Commissioner of Khulna Md. Firoz Sarkar was the chief guest at the discussion meeting, held at the conference room of Khulna Deputy Commissioner( DC) in the morning on the occasion of the day.
The chief guest said that tobacco and smoking are very harmful to health. Many people start their journey towards drugs from smoking. Tobacco damages almost all organs of the human body, he added.
It was informed at the meeting that more than 161,000 people die annually in the country due to the effects of tobacco consumption. Currently, more than 7 million people in the country aged 30 or above are suffering from various diseases related to tobacco consumption.
Of these, more than 1.5 million people are suffering from chronic diseases related to tobacco. In addition, more than 61,000 children are victims of indirect smoking at home. More than 435,000 children under the age of 15 are suffering from various diseases related to tobacco. Smoking is responsible for 90 percent of lung cancer in Bangladesh.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam presided over the program, and Additional Divisional Commissioner (Development) Abu Sayed Md. Manjur Alam, Ansar and VDP Director ASM Azim Uddin, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Saikat Md. Rezawanul Haque and Assistant Police Commissioner Md. Shihab Karim delivered speeches as special guests. Kazi Mohammad Hasibul Haque, a member of the District Taskforce Committee of the National Tobacco Control Cell, presented an article.
Khulna Divisional and District Administration organized the program in collaboration with the National Tobacco Control Cell.
After the program, the Divisional Commissioner distributed certificates and prizes among the winning students of the essay competition.
Earlier, a colorful procession started from Shahid Hadis Park in the city and circled various roads before ending at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Officials, teachers and students of various government and private departments participated in the procession.
