Ban tobacco cultivation for health safety

Some NGO activists yesterday reiterated their demand to ban tobacco cultivation in farmlands across the country to minimise environmental hazard and ensure public health safety.
Widespread tobacco cultivation across the country is posing severe threat to food security, environmental sustainability, land fertility, ecological balance and public health. So the government should pose an embargo on tobacco cultivation, they said.
They placed the demand while addressing a sit-in programme jointly organised by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (Bata) in front of National Press Club in the city, says a press release.
Bapa General Secretary Dr Abdul Matin said tobacco cultivation is polluting water bodies and air. It also reduces land fertility and causes deforestation, he added.
Bata Coordinator Saifuddin Ahmed said widespread cultivation of tobacco creates acute shortage of fodder, hampers children's education and increases tobacco related diseases. So tobacco cultivation in all farmlands including those in the hill tracts should be banned immediately, he said.
Nirapad Development Foundation Chairman Ibnul Syeed Rana, Serac-Bangladesh Executive Director SM Shaikat, among others, also spoke at the function.