Make law to display pictorial warning
Laws should be formulated to ensure that all tobacco products are sold in the country with pictorial warning labels on the packets, said the speakers at a discussion yesterday.
The discussion was organised jointly by Consumers Association
Bangladesh (CAB) and Bangladesh Consortium on Tobacco Control (BCTC) at the National Press Club in the city.
The theme of the discussion was 'Strengthening tobacco control law regarding package warning'.
"Pictorial message should fill one-third of the packets to serve a bolder and more concrete warning to the smokers. This will be particularly effective for common masses who cannot read," said Iqbal Masud of Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
CAB President Borhan Ahmed said the pictures would be a step forward towards encouraging smokers to quit the bad habit.
"As majority of our people are illiterate, they cannot understand the gravity of the warnings written on the cigarette packets," he added.
"Pictorial warnings have proved more effective than written warnings on the packets in other countries to understand the health risks of smoking ," said Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury, president of MANOSH.
Similar pictorial messages appear in Canada, Thailand, Brazil, Singapore and other countries, said the speakers demanding their introduction in Bangladesh.
Speaking as chief guest, State Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Advocate Kamrul Islam said the existing laws should be strengthened.
“We should intensify our efforts to save young generation from becoming slaves of this addiction," he added.
National Professor Dr Nurul Islam, who pioneered anti-tobacco campaign, also spoke on the occasion.
The speakers also stressed the need for prohibiting tobacco production in croplands, heavy taxes on tobacco products along with more comprehensive awareness campaigns.
According to a study conducted in 2004, smoking kills more than 57,000 people in Bangladesh every year.
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