Strict laws to stop tobacco use urged
Demanding amendment to the tobacco control act, anti-tobacco campaigners yesterday said stricter laws and their enforcement to discourage smoking and tobacco consumption, the main causes of cancer, can effectively help prevent the disease.
They were addressing a sit-in programme organised by Prattyasha Madok Birodhi Sangathan, Nirapad Development Foundation (NDF) and WBB Trust before Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University marking World Cancer Day.
“Some chewable tobacco products like sadapata, zarda and gul are not included in the anti-tobacco law but these contribute to mouth cancer,” said NDF Chairman Ibnul Sayeed Rana.
Cancer Ambassador of Bangladesh Aminul Islam Sujan said cigarette companies in 43 countries provide cautionary pictures and messages on their packets to actively discourage smoking.
The government should make it mandatory for cigarette companies to provide cautionary pictures and messages covering 50 percent of the packets, he said.
The prattyasha General Secretary Helal Ahmed said tobacco contains over 4,000 chemicals which contribute to 43 types of cancers.
If the authorities concerned fail to free public places of smoking, they too should be punished. Advertisements promoting tobacco consumption should also be banned, the speakers said.
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