Speakers at a post-rally discussion here yesyerday underscored the need for curbing illicit tobacco trading for protecting the young generation from the curse of smoking, reports BSS. They clarified that the massive illicit tobacco trading is being adjudged as wide-ranging smoking aggression among the adolescents and as part of its consequence they are being drug-addicted. Civil Surgeon office organised the meeting titled “Curbing illicit tobacco trade” held in its conference hall to mark the World No Tobacco Day 2015. Various government and non-government development organizations concerned like Rajshahi City Corporation, Nursing Training College (NTC), Association for Community Development (ACD), Anti Tobacco Media Alliance and SMC joined the programme. Civil Surgeon Abdus Sobhan, Deputy Civil Surgeon Farhana Haque, Senior Health Education Officer Sazzad Hossain, Junior Health Education Officer Abdur Rahman and SMC’s Clinic Coordinator Asaduzzaman Sarker spoke on the occasion. They said the non-smokers are affected more than the direct smokers in any public places or transports. So, a social movement has become indispensable to address the problem.  Proper and strict enforcement of the amended tobacco control law is very vital in this regard Time has come to stop all sorts of tobacco promotion related advertisements, publicity and patronization to protect the future generation from bad effect of smoking and other tobacco products. Civil Surgeon Dr Abdus Sobhan termed smoking as breeding ground of various chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous system together with various social crimes. He says the use of narcotics and smoking should be controlled substantially to prevent the non-contagious diseases. Coordination among the key stakeholders, awareness building and capacity development and law enforcement particularly mobile court operation could be the vital strategies for effective implementation of the tobacco control law, he added.  Our Correspondent from Natore adds: World Tobacco Control Day was observed with much enthusiasm in Natore district yesterday. The district taskforce committee, Natore with the theme of the day ‘Stop illicit trade of tobacco products’. A discussion meeting on the theme and slogan ‘Stop illicit trade of tobacco products’ was held  at Natore DC’s conference room.Senior consultant (Child specialist) Imdadul Hoque Dulal  presided over the meeting while Deputy Commissioner Md. Mashiur Rahman spoke as chief guest. The meeting was addressed among others by Police Super Basudeb Banik and ADC(General) Kazi Atiur Rahman as special guests.  
Speakers stressed the need for creating awareness among the mass people in order to ensure ‘Stop illicit trade of tobacco products’. The whole function was conducted by senior health education officer  Sarkar Md.  Shafiqur Rahman Ferdous.