Most of the people of the country are spending on health care from their own pockets, people are becoming calmer by adding the cost of this treatment. In this situation, one of the main responsibilities of the government is to strengthen measures to prevent diseases. But the main obstacle in strengthening the immune system in the country is the companies that produce products that are harmful to public health. Cigarette and tobacco manufacturing companies are one of them. Due to the various misleading information and influence of these institutions, the government cannot take welfare measures to protect public health. The Citizens Network calls on the government to take strict action as per Article 18 (1) of the Constitution to protect public health.
Cunning tobacco companies are using various tricks to attract the younger generation. Setting up tobacco stalls near educational institutions, creating smoking areas in restaurants, and promoting harmful new technology-based tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and vaping. These harmful products are very dangerous for the young society. They are misleading the youth by promoting e-cigarettes and vaping as safe alternatives.
About 49% of the population of Bangladesh is youth. Banning the import, export, transport, sale, distribution and advertising of e-cigarettes and vaping is essential to protect this large young population. Although the current law in the country prohibits the sale of tobacco products to those under the age of 18, this rule is not properly enforced, which increases the risk of tobacco addiction among teenagers. Prohibiting the sale of single narcotics is also very important for the protection of children and adolescents.
118 countries around the world have already banned the sale of single packs of cigarettes; It is important to take this step in Bangladesh as well. Tobacco companies falsely campaign that stronger tobacco control laws will reduce government revenue. However, even after the introduction of the Tobacco Control Act in 2005 and its amendment in 2013, revenue from tobacco has increased almost 11 times. At the same time tobacco use is reduced and public health is protected. Thus, stronger laws reduce tobacco use, but not revenue. 70% of deaths in the country are due to non-communicable diseases, one of which is tobacco. 1 lakh 65 thousand people die prematurely in Bangladesh every year due to cigarette consumption. Now is the time to enact stronger tobacco control laws to protect public health and counter tobacco companies’ sleazy tactics.
We must build a collective resistance against tobacco companies to protect our children, loved ones and future generations. Citizen Network – On behalf of the Senate, we urge the government to take strict measures to protect public health. C-NET, a network of 30 voluntary organizations in Bangladesh, is working on the importance of non-communicable disease control, healthy diet, and regular physical activity at the field level. We express our firm assurance of strong cooperation in all initiatives of the government to protect public health. thank you
