Amend act to punish illegal tobacco traders

Speakers at a seminar yesterday urged the government for keeping a provision of punishment in the draft for amending the Tobacco Control Act 2005 to combat illegal trade of tobacco in the country.
They said the government is going to amend the act, but there is no mention of tobacco smuggling in the draft although around one third of total tobacco trade in Bangladesh is being carried out through international smuggling.
The seminar titled 'Combat illegal trade of tobacco products in Bangladesh' was organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (Dam) with the support of World Health Organisation (WHO) country office at its auditorium in the city.
The speakers said with the direct involvement of some cigarette companies huge consignments of cigarette are smuggled into the country every year.
The tobacco products manufacturing and marketing companies are getting benefits from such smuggling, they added.
Terming these companies as economic terrorists, prime minister's health Adviser Prof Dr Syed Modasser Ali said not only the government and the organisations working for tobacco control but also people from all walks of life would have to be involved in tobacco control campaign.
Addressing the seminar as chief guest the adviser focused on self-conscience of all concerned to stop illegal trade of tobacco.
" If all including the tobacco companies are not run by self-conscience illegal trade of tobacco products would not be controlled," he added.
Barrister Tania Amir in her keynote said tobacco companies maintain strong lobby with the high-ups of government in different ways and continue their illegal trade.
Terming the tobacco companies as criminal and mafia organisations, Tania said they are committing crimes as tobacco products destroy people's life through slow poisoning.
Besides, manipulating the duty-free sale the tobacco companies are also evading huge tax, she added.
WHO Technical Officer Ishrat Chowdhury stressed on strengthening the enforcement mechanism to stop smuggling of tobacco products in the country which is very vulnerable to smuggling due to its geographical location.
Dam President Kazi Rafiqul Alam presided over the seminar which was also addressed by its Coordinator Iqbal Mahmud.