Strict enforcement of tobacco act stressed

Anti-tobacco activists yesterday laid emphasis on creating social awareness for strict enforcement of the amended Tobacco Control Act to save thousands of nonsmokers from indirect smoking.

As the anti-tobacco campaign is carried out at a considerable scale, tobacco companies are changing strategies to hinder success in the policy-making process by inspiring farmers in tobacco cultivation offering them lucrative profits, they said.

The opinion came at an advocacy meeting organised by District Tobacco Control Law Enforcement Task-force Committee (DTCLETC) and Association for Community Development (ACD) at conference room of the deputy commissioner in Lalmonirhat district town.

Project Coordinator of ACD Ehsanul Amin Emon narrated the present tobacco cultivation scenario, violation of the amended Tobacco Control Act and health hazards of smoking in public places.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Lalmonirhat Rezaul Alam Sarker, the chief guest, called for creating public awareness to ensure strict enforcement of the tobacco control laws.

Member-secretary of DTCLETC and Civil Surgeon of Lalmonirhat Dr Kashem Ali chaired the meeting.