RAJSHAHI: Speakers at an advocacy meeting here unequivocally called for combating the existing violation of the amended tobacco control law for the sake of making the public health free from various non-contagious diseases caused by tobacco uses, reports BSS.

They said the number of mobile court should be enhanced both in rural and urban areas and some public places like railway stations, bus terminals and amusement areas to make those free from smoking. District Tobacco Control Task-force Committee and Association for Community Development (ACD) jointly organised the meeting titled “Enforcement of Tobacco Control Law” held at the conference room of DC here yesterday.

Deputy Commissioner Helal Mahmud Sharif and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Nasima Khatun addressed the discussion as chief and special guests respectively with Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Enamul Haque in the chair.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdur Razzaque Khan, Deputy Director of Department of Social Service Rashedul Kabir, Deputy Director of Department of Drugs and Narcotics Control Lutfor Rahman, District Primary Education Officer Nafisha Begum and Deputy Director of District Information Office Md Shamsuzzaman also spoke on the occasion. Helal Mahmud Sharif viewed the government has amended the law to make it more stringent because of growing tobacco use in the country. The law also bans the selling of cigarettes to those below 18, he also said.

During his keynote presentation, Ehsanul Amin Emon, Project Coordinator of ACD, said around 57,000 people die and nearly 12 lakh people become disabled every year in the country due to tobacco-related diseases.

Tactical marketing maneuvering by tobacco companies inducing youngsters as new smokers defying and bypassing restrictive law is advancing unabated in Rajshahi and its adjacent areas, he added. Gross violation of the Tobacco Control Act continues at the restricted areas including public places threatening public health almost everywhere.

He urged authorities concerned to raise tax on tobacco to curb its widespread use. Pictorial images on cigarette and other non-smoke tobacco product packets should be effective and meaningful for discouraging smoking.

Besides, coordination among the key stakeholders, awareness building and capacity development, law enforcement particularly mobile court operation could be vital strategies for effective implementation of the law, Ehsanul Amin Emon added.