Photo : Messenger
The use of tobacco products is harmful to public health, the economy and the environment. Due to the huge population, poverty, lack of education and awareness, Bangladesh is one of the top ten consuming countries in the world.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2017, 35.3% of adults over the age of 15 in the country use tobacco products (smoking and smokeless), of which 46% are men and 25.2% are women. Many people are indirectly affected by second hand smoking in various public places.
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was ratified at the 56th World Health Conference in Geneva in May 2003 with the aim of integrated tobacco control and reduction of tobacco use worldwide. Bangladesh was the first signatory to the agreement and ratified it in 2004.
Accordingly, the government of Bangladesh, in the light of the FCTC, enacted the Smoking and Tobacco Use (Control) Act 2005 (amended 2013) and formulated regulations in 2015. The law underwent some changes and amendments in 2013, and in 2015, the Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) Rule was finally enacted and enforced.
The law prohibits smoking in public places and public transport, and is mandatory to display no smoking signage in public places and public transport. In addition, all types of advertising, promotion or sponsorships of tobacco products are prohibited.
Bangladesh is committed to control the use of tobacco products. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pledged the commitment of her government to work towards full compliance with the WHO FCTC and declared the country to be tobacco free by 2040.
Tobacco use in Bangladesh, both in smoked and smokeless forms, constitute a major health hazard and has wide-ranging impacts on the economy and productivity of our nation. Due to tobacco related diseases, annually more than 1,61,000 people die (Tobacco Atlas 2018, 6th Edition) and nearly 400,000 people became disable (WHO 2004). Treatment of tobacco related diseases is a burden for affected individuals and their family members, as well as severe burden for national economy.
The Bangladesh government, hence, is giving due importance to the issue of tobacco control activities.
On behalf of Health Services Division under the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, National Tobacco Control Cell is working in various ways to achieve the goal of tobacco free Bangladesh by 2040.
Different ministries, departments, its under organizations, national-district-upazila Task Force Committee, and divisional-district-upazila administrations are taking various steps through the coordination of the concerned public-private organizations for tobacco control.
The government is working hard to make progress towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 that includes effective enforcement of the WHO FCTC at all level. Hence, the issue of tobacco control has been included with due importance in 7th and 8th Fifth Year plan.
Health and Family Welfare Ministry has formed a National task Force Committee for implementing the Tobacco Law.
The Task Force is performing necessary activities to implement different rules under the law. It has formulated necessary policies on reducing damages caused by use of tobacco products and took necessary steps for implementing the policies.
It took necessary steps for formulating policies on controlling the production, buying, sale, use and smuggling of tobacco products and took steps for its proper implementation.
It undertakes necessary education and publicity activities to create awareness among people about the bad effects of the tobacco products, and hold seminar, symposium and workshops along with publication of booklets on law, rules and other information in this regard.
The committee conducts any research or survey activities in order to collect information on tobacco products. Its activities are to check and take necessary decision on the ingredients used in imported tobacco products; to arrange training for officials of public and private organizations engaged in tobacco control activities for increasing their skill; to review the report on anti-tobacco activities across the country, submitted by tobacco control cell, and give decision aimed at bringing better result.
Activities of the Task Force at District and upazila level:
To take initiative for enforcing the tobacco control law at local level; to take regular initiative to create awareness among people at local level about the bad effects of use of tobacco products through the use of local media; to raise awareness about the tobacco control law in a bid to implement the law and provide supports to local people in this regard; to provide report to the tobacco control cell on the progress of those activities mentioned above after every three months.
Besides, the Health Ministry takes necessary steps for increasing more tax on tobacco products and make policy for determining prices; to remove weakness in existing law and take steps for controlling the use of chewable and other tobacco products; to make proper monitoring system on tobacco; to undertake steps for increasing awareness raising activities; to conduct mobile court for enforcing law.
As part of achieving the goal of tobacco free country by 2040, the government is putting emphasis on several things. The first step is to form a fund by using health development surcharge by which tobacco control activities can be carried out across the country. In the second stage, the government will take necessary step for making strong tobacco custom policy by simplifying the present tax structure on tobacco. Its objective is to reduce the purchasing capacity of tobacco products, at the same increase the tax income of the government.
After all, the government will take all types of effective step for enforcing the tobacco law. Steps will be taken to keep the tobacco law in consistence with FCTC keeping in mind the priority of SDGs implementation.
Alongside the government, there are more than 700 non-government organizations across the country, which are working to raise public awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco as well as conduct various activities locally and nationally as part of enforcing tobacco control laws and rules.
Established in 1992, Bangladesh Blind Mission (BBM), a non-government organization, is working to promote and enhance multi-sectoral engagement and awareness on tobacco harm reduction by strengthening the technical capacities of key and relevant stakeholders, as part of its mission to advance the public health.
Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) has been publishing quarterly magazine ‘Swamaswar’ every three months detailing information on all types of anti-tobacco activities since its founding.
Adhunik (We prevent smoking), a voluntary anti-tobacco organization, is well known as a symbol of creating awareness about the hazardous consequences of tobacco use on the human health.
Tamak Birodhi Nari Jote (TABINAJ) is the first anti-tobacco alliance of women in Bangladesh, which has taken up anti-tobacco campaign to save women, men and children from the hazards of tobacco. It is against smoking and use of smokeless tobacco products which are mostly consumed by women.
Tobacco is a national problem. It is not possible for the government alone to address the issue. Hence, public-private partnership is a must to achieve the goal.
It is hoped that an atmosphere of public-private collaboration will be created for the sake of making tobacco-free Bangladesh.
Md. Sazedul Islam is a freelance journalist
Messenger/Disha
