Discourage tobacco consumption
Bangladesh remains one of the world's largest consumers of tobacco, according to reports published by The Daily Star. Subsequently, cancer expert Dr. Lim Hong Ling has also said that 80 percent of all lung cancer cases worldwide are related to smoking. In fact, the 69-plus carcinogens in tobacco smoke can cause many types of cancer, as can smokeless tobacco: cancers of the sinus, lips, mouth, throat, oesophagus, larynx, gastric system, colon, pancreas and bone marrow, and cervical, breast and ovarian cancer in women.
As such, tobacco taxes need to be increased in order to deter the youth from its consumption. Tobacco control legislation must also be properly implemented and enforced. The graphic health warnings featured on the bottoms of cigarette packs are not visible enough to have a significant effect on consumers. The industry still targets Bangladeshis – especially children – with misleading advertising, marketing and promotions, while tens of thousands of our fellow citizens suffer terribly from tobacco-related diseases every year. This is unacceptable.
The government has the power to change this. I urge them to use that power and prioritise the health of Bangladeshis above the tobacco industry's profits.
Md. Shafiqul Islam
Bangladesh Country Advisor, Vital Strategies
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