Dhaka, Jan 16 (V7N)- Tobacco is the largest contributing factor to preventable deaths. Globally, it claims over 8 million lives each year. Apart from the loss of lives, tobacco also wreaks havoc on the vital socio-economic, environmental and ecological factors at play in society. The effective role played by mass media in this regard is undeniable.
Speakers said these at a two-day journalists' workshop titled "Media for Tobacco Control in Bangladesh" that took place at BMA Bhaban on Wednesday and Thursday.
The workshop, organized jointly by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and ATMA (Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance), was attended by 27 journalists from print, television and online media outlets.
It was informed that the prevalence of tobacco use among the 15-year-olds and above demographic stands at 35.3%.
Tobacco-related illness claims 161,000 lives each year in Bangladesh, causing hundreds of thousands of disabilities.
A 2019 study conducted by the American Cancer Society reveals that in FY2017-18, the financial loss incurred by medical expenses and loss of productivity was Tk30,560 crore, an amount much higher than the revenue generated (Tk22,810 crore) from tobacco.
In this way, tobacco is posing a growing threat to the public health, economy and environment of Bangladesh.
Speakers also said that tobacco works as a major impediment towards achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).
There is no alternative to strengthening tobacco control laws to achieve SDGs by 2030.
The draft amendment of tobacco control law, prepared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) includes eliminating provision for designated smoking areas (DSAs) in all public places and public transport, banning the display of tobacco packs at points-of-sale, banning corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of tobacco companies, and banning import, production and sale of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products.
Speakers urged the government to ensure swift passage of the amendment, one that is free from interference from tobacco companies.
In addition, increasing the prices of tobacco products is globally recognized as an effective method to discourage tobacco use.
The tobacco taxation structure of Bangladesh is faulty which has rendered tobacco products cheaper and more affordable.
Against this backdrop, the government must bring tobacco products out of the purchasing capabilities of the people by imposing specific supplementary duties and gradually decreasing the number of price tiers of cigarettes from 04 to 01.
Among the discussants present during the two-day workshop were Md Mostafizur Rahman, former chairman of BCIC; Professor Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury, head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute; Zahirul Alam, head of News, NTV; Mortuza Haider Liton, convener, ATMA; Mizan Chowdhury, co-convener, ATMA, and ABM Zubair, executive director, PROGGA.
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