'Media must play an active role to ban E-cigarettes in Bangladesh'

Participants at a discussion organised by the Dhaka Ahsania Mission urged the media to support and play an active role in banning e-cigarettes in Bangladesh.

The participants expressed their opinions in an online live discussion program named "Corona Dialogue: Episode-19" organised by the Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health Sector that aired at 9pm on Monday, said a press release issued by Dhaka Ahsania Mission.

Mr. Mir Mashrur Zaman, Senior News Editor of Channel I and Dr. Fahim Ahmad Rupom, Preventive Medicine and Diabetes Specialist, Executive Editor of Shastho TV and Editor, Health page, Daily Jugantor participated in the discussion program moderated by Sharmeen Rahman, Senior Program Officer, Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission.

Mir Mashrur Zaman said, "One of the harmful elements of e-cigarettes is that it causes lung cancer. Mostly students and youths are attracted to e-cigarettes, vaping or heated tobacco."

" So, media can play a vital role to ban these types of harmful products in three angles: 1) media can play a role as messenger for increasing mass awareness; 2) media can play a role as watchdog to disclose the tobacco companies' ill-tactics; and 3) media can also play a role as a pressure group to ban these types of products by law and by regulation by the government," Mashrur added.

Dr. Fahim Ahmad said, "It is proven that the harm caused by cigarettes and E-cigarettes is the same. Both products are made with nicotine, and in cigarette, there are 7000 chemical substances out of which 70 chemical substances directly cause cancer."

He also said that mass awareness has to be built through the media: print, electronic and online.

Any change can happen when all sectors (civil society, non- government organisations, policy makers, media and governments) work together and at the same time.

Dr Fahim urged everybody to raise their voice together for banning E-cigarette in Bangladesh.

Sharmeen Rahman requested all media platforms to support and play an active role in banning  e-cigarettes in Bangladesh.

She also said that if India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and more than 30 countries can ban it then why not Bangladesh?