A coalition of youth activists and health advocates has called for the swift enactment of proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, emphasising its urgency in safeguarding public health.
The demand was raised during a human chain demonstration organised by Nari Maitree in front of the National Press Club on Saturday, coinciding with International Women’s Day, said a press release.
The event brought together representatives from the Anti-Tobacco Youth Forum, Mothers’ Forum, Teachers’ Forum, Girl Guides Rangers, the Red Crescent, and students from various universities and colleges.
Speakers at the gathering underscored the devastating impact of tobacco consumption, particularly on women and children, highlighting both direct and secondhand exposure.
They warned that tobacco addiction is tightening its grip on the younger generation, posing a significant threat to their future.
Urging immediate legislative action, they stressed the necessity of strengthening tobacco control laws to ensure a healthier society.
Ashrafia Jannat, convener of the Anti-Tobacco Youth Forum, pointed to the alarming toll of tobacco-related illnesses, stating, “Every day, 442 people in Bangladesh lose their lives due to tobacco consumption.
To curb these preventable deaths, it is imperative to pass and implement the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, as recommended by the Ministry of Health in alignment with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).”
She outlined key proposed amendments, including:
- Eliminating designated smoking areas in all public spaces and transport to protect non-smokers.
- Banning the display of tobacco products at points of sale.
- Prohibiting the sale of single cigarettes, loose smokeless tobacco, and unpackaged tobacco items.
- Imposing a blanket ban on corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives by tobacco companies.
- Increasing the size of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging from 50% to 90%.
- Introducing urgent measures to protect young people from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and vaping products.
Youth advocate Zarin Tasfia highlighted the dangers of passive smoking, particularly for pregnant women and children.
“Secondhand smoke can lead to miscarriages, low birth weight, and respiratory diseases in newborns. To protect women’s health and safeguard future generations, we urge the government to pass and enforce the proposed amendments without delay,” she asserted.
Nasrin Akter, Project Coordinator at Nari Maitree, addressed misinformation spread by the tobacco industry, refuting claims that the amendments would result in significant revenue losses for the government.
“Since the enactment of the Tobacco Control Act in 2005 and its amendment in 2013, government revenue has increased 12.5 times over 18 years, while tobacco consumption has declined by 18% between 2009 and 2017,” she noted.
She also dismissed the argument that the amendments would put 15 lakh small retailers out of business. Citing data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ 2021 survey on wholesale and retail trade, she clarified that of the 15.4 lakh retail businesses in the country, only 1.96 lakh sell food, beverages, and tobacco products combined, most of which operate as multi-product outlets.
Therefore, the proposed changes would not significantly impact employment.
Urging vigilance against tobacco industry propaganda, Nasrin Akter called on the youth to continue advocating for the swift passage of the amendments.
“Young voices are crucial in countering misinformation and pushing for policies that protect public health,” she concluded.
The demonstrators reaffirmed their commitment to sustained advocacy, vowing to intensify their efforts until the proposed amendments are enacted.
