‘It is not just the smoker who harms himself. But also harms the people around him or her. The law needs to be amended to save the next generation from the health risks of secondhand smoke and everyone should be aware of it, ”said Prof. Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz, MP, a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz, MP spoke in a courtesy meeting with a delegation of Dhaka Ahsania Mission's Tobacco Control Project on March 15 at noon at his office in Dhaka.

Program Officer Sharmeen Rahman and Media Manager Rezaur Rahman Rizvi were in the delegation led by Dhaka Ahsania Mission Tobacco Control Project Coordinator Md. Shariful Islam. The delegation briefed Professor. Md. Abdul Aziz, MP about the various activities of Dhaka Ahsania Mission on Tobacco Control.

Meanwhile, Md. Shariful Islam, Coordinator, Tobacco Control Project, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, said that the Government of Bangladesh enacted the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 in the light of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). In 2013, several important amendments were made to the Act and in 2015, the Smoking and Tobacco Usage (Control) Rules were formulated. However, the existing tobacco control law is largely compatible with the FCTC, but there are weaknesses in some areas. Taking advantage of these weakness, the tobacco company is promoting tobacco prevalence.

Program Officer Sharmeen Rahman said the weaknesses of the existing law are the barriers on tobacco control. The existing law allows smoking in public transport and restaurants in certain cases, does not prohibit the display of tobacco products in sales outlets, and does not ban the sale of single sticks of cigarettes or cigarettes. Emerging tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, are not included in the ban on imports and sales, the size / volume of packaging of all tobacco products is not specified, and pictorial health warnings fail to play an effective role. In addition, most countries in the world do not have the opportunity to buy a single stick cigarette. But there is no obligation in our country. Legal obligations are needed in this matter.

The delegation asked support from Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz, MP in favor of the proposal for the necessary amendments of the current law and to increase the price of tobacco products and tobacco tax. Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz, MP thanked the delegation for their activities and assured necessary cooperation.