1.26 lakh die annually from tobacco use in Bangladesh: Progga

The youth of the country, nearly one-third of the population, might become a burden for the country instead of an asset due to tobacco addiction, said Progga, a platform of anti-tobacco campaigners.

In a statement issued marking International Youth Day today, Progga said the country's future depends on the skills and capabilities of the youth.

"126,000 lives are lost in Bangladesh each year because of diseases due to tobacco use. The tobacco industry fills up their loss of consumers by targeting children, teenagers and the youth," it said.

Referring to the latest information by Tobacco Atlas, the statement said the number of tobacco users between the ages of 10 to 14 years old in Bangladesh is 172,000 and the number of such users in Bangladesh is 1.86 percent more than other mid-level countries of the Human Development Index.

"According to the US Surgeon General Report 2014, nearly 90 percent of adult smokers began smoking by age 18. Smoking at such early age reduces the efficiency of lungs, hampers the rate of growth of lungs, increases the risk of lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and emotional or psychological distress over years," it added.

The statement further said the tobacco and related industries use a number of manipulation tactics including sleek designs, innovative and flavored tobacco products,promoting tobacco products in movies, TV shows and online streaming shows, making it available near educational institutions.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco companies spend yearly US$ 900 crores to attract the teenagers and the youth and transform them into future loyal customers," reads the statement.

ABM Zubair, Executive Director of Progga said in the statement that the young generation will not be able to contribute to attain the status of a developed country by 2041 if they becomes sick owing to the tobacco addiction.

"Therefore, it is very important to save the young people from tobacco.It is high time to protect the youth of Bangladesh by implementing tobacco control laws," he added.