Strict anti-smoking law in the offing

The government has decided to amend the Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) Act, 2005, keeping provisions to fine Tk 10 lakh to any tobacco industry running advertisement of its product, said Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday.
The government has also decided to fine Tk 500 to any individual smoking in public places and to restrict the sale of tobacco products to children aged below 16 years, he added.
The minister was addressing a discussion on “Voices of tobacco victims” jointly organised by United Forum against Tobacco, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, PROGGA and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance in the capital's Cirdap auditorium.
Under the current act, the fines are only Taka 1,000 for advertising tobacco products and Tk 50 for smoking in public places.
Health experts and civil society members have urged the government to amend the act to curb the use of tobacco products.
According to World Health Organisation, around 57,000 people die from diseases related to tobacco consumption while 3,82,000 become disabled from it every year in Bangladesh, said Matthew Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, USA.