RAJSHAHI: Anti-tobacco campaigners here yesterday said a collective effort of all government and non-government entities is an urgent to expedite anti-tobacco campaign and check tobacco use in the country, reports BSS.

Utmost emphasis should be given on highlighting health and other risks associated with tobacco use apart from advocating for effective policy to cut tobacco consumption, they told a seminar at the conference hall of Civil Surgeon Office.

District Tobacco Control Task-force Committee organised the seminar titled ‘Potential Harm to Tobacco’ marking the World No Tobacco Day- 2018. The theme of this year’s day is ‘Tobacco attacks heart: Stay away, save lives’.  The theme demonstrates the link between tobacco use and heart and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Chaired by Civil Surgeon Dr Samjit Kumar Shaha, the seminar was addressed, among others, by Deputy Commissioner SM Abdul Kader, Superintendent of Police Md Shahidullah, Deputy Director of Department of Youth Development Matiur Rahman, Deputy Director of Social Services Department Rashedul Kabir, District Primary Education Officer Nafisa Begum and ACD Programme Officer Krishna Biswash.

The speakers highlighted the risks of tobacco on health and called for taking effective policies to cut tobacco use in the country. They urged all to take comprehensive measures to raise voice against tobacco use to build a tobacco-free society. Representatives from various government and non-government organisations, including Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), Association for Community Development (ACD), Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), PSTC, World Vision and Tilottoma, took part in the seminar.