Dhaka Bureau: I will be with and play an all-out role for the speedy passage of the draft Tobacco Control Act prepared by the Ministry of Health to create a tobacco-free Bangladesh as announced by the Honorable Prime Minister. Today, Thursday (October 27) at 10 o’clock in a hotel in the capital, Dhaka Ahsania Mission organized a discussion program entitled ‘Prime Minister announced the need to quickly turn the draft of the amendment of the Tobacco Control Act into a law to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040’. Minister Tajul Islam MP said this.
He also said that the billions of rupees earned for tobacco is nothing compared to the health damage. It is said that if tobacco is stopped, 8 million people will be unemployed which is nothing but a myth. My ministry is also working on the implementation of the honorable Prime Minister’s announcement. Guidelines for tobacco control have also been developed. I think the tobacco control bill will be passed soon. There is no reason not to. Because this is the announcement of honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. I will do all kinds of cooperation to make the country tobacco free by 2040.
The special guest in the discussion meeting was the former health minister and president, standing committee related to the ministry of science and technology professor Dr. AFM Ruhul Haque, MP and former Minister of State for Youth and Sports and Member, Standing Committee on Ministry of Youth and Sports Mr. Biren Shikder, MP.
Professor Dr. AFM Ruhul Haque said, that tobacco is a very harmful product, it goes without saying. For this reason, I strongly support the initiative taken by the Ministry of Health to protect the future generation by drafting the amendment to the Tobacco Control Act.
Mr. Biren Shikder said, “We are working to create a tobacco-free Bangladesh of the Honorable Prime Minister.” We have come a long way, we have to go further. Copper has nothing to gain but harm. So tobacco must be discouraged.
Hosne Ali Khandkar, Coordinator, National Tobacco Control Council and Additional Secretary, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Md also spoke as a speaker in the meeting. Serim Reza, Chief Executive (Additional Secretary), Dhaka North City Corporation and Abdus Salam Miah, Grants Manager, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. In addition, Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Dr. Jobaidur Rahman, Bangladesh Railway Ministry Joint Secretary Jalal Ahmed, The Union’s Technical Counsel Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam.
Deputy Director of Health Sector Md Mokhlesur Rahman presented the keynote speech in the program under the chairmanship of Program Officer Sharmani Akhtar Rini and Director of Health and Wash Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Iqbal Masud.
