Strong measures to curb tobacco

Reportedly, a letter signed by the finance minister, containing the name of the prime minister, has been sent to the ministry handling tobacco products plus other senior ministers, requesting urgent suggestions to control the industry which is harming overall national health.  The government made a pre-election pledge to get tough on tobacco and it appears from the letter that the wheels will be put to motion before the next national budget.  As this is certainly commendable, any move against tobacco control needs to be well chalked out, free of any indecisiveness and acted on with firm conviction. Since Bangladesh is very much a smoking nation, the moves need to be based on a cogent strategy and not driven by impetuous drives.

Asking suggestions from senior ministers is a rational move though a few of the steps essential are known to us all. The plan to stop production of bidi, or indigenous cigarettes, has to be carried out within the next three years, though in attempting to do so, the government will certainly feel ferocious opposition from the large bidi manufacturing companies which also make notable contribution to the economy.  However, the health of the nation has to precede all other considerations. In order to provide farmers with an alternative crop, lentils, seasonal fruits and even new products with demand like avocado, cherries, peach and, broccoli can be considered.

In addition to keeping the health issue in mind, it needs to be widely understood that tobacco cultivation requires excess chemicals which destroys the fertility of the land.  In one word, this cultivation is harming us in several ways. If the government wants to make some significant progress under the ‘tobacco control in next 20 years’ approach, then a series of strict decisions adopted swiftly in parliament needs to be implemented.

It’s the right time to pass a set of stringent laws so that tobacco companies cannot, at the expense of national health, use Bangladesh as a market. Since the fight against tobacco is a long term one, imposing plus increasing tax every year can be considered along with the stopping of bank loans and other facilities to tobacco industries.  

 

Strong measures to curb tobacco

Reportedly, a letter signed by the finance minister, containing the name of the prime minister, has been sent to the ministry handling tobacco products plus other senior ministers, requesting urgent suggestions to control the industry which is harming overall national health. The government made a pre-election pledge to get tough on tobacco and it appears from the letter that the wheels will be put to motion before the next national budget. As this is certainly commendable, any move against tobacco control needs to be well chalked out, free of any indecisiveness and acted on with firm conviction. Since Bangladesh is very much a smoking nation, the moves need to be based on a cogent strategy and not driven by impetuous drives. Asking suggestions from senior ministers is a rational move though a few of the steps essential are known to us all. The plan to stop production of bidi, or indigenous cigarettes, has to be carried out within the next three years, though in attempting to do so, the government will certainly feel ferocious opposition from the large bidi manufacturing companies which also make notable contribution to the economy. However, the health of the nation has to precede all other considerations. In order to provide farmers with an alternative crop, lentils, seasonal fruits and even new products with demand like avocado, cherries, peach and, broccoli can be considered. In addition to keeping the health issue in mind, it needs to be widely understood that tobacco cultivation requires excess chemicals which destroys the fertility of the land. In one word, this cultivation is harming us in several ways. If the government wants to make some significant progress under the tobacco control in next 20 years approach, then a series of strict decisions adopted swiftly in parliament needs to be implemented. Its the right time to pass a set of stringent laws so that tobacco companies cannot, at the expense of national health, use Bangladesh as a market. Since the fight against tobacco is a long term one, imposing plus increasing tax every year can be considered along with the stopping of bank loans and other facilities to tobacco industries.