Tobacco control is not only health ministry's responsibility: Farida Akhter

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today (27 January) said that tobacco control is not the responsibility of the Health Ministry only, rather, it is a broader public health issue.

"All concerned ministries and relevant institutions must take coordinated initiative and responsibility," she said while speaking at a view exchange meeting at CIRDAP auditorium here as a guest of honour. 

The meeting was organised by the National Tobacco Control Cell under the Ministry of Health for the effective implementation of the 'Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025'. 

Chaired by Health Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman, Health and Family Welfare Adviser, and Nurjahan Begum joined the meeting as the chief guests.

Among others, WHO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, Programme Director of the National Tobacco Control Cell and Additional Secretary of the Health Ministry Sheikh Momena Moni and Director General of Health Services Prof. Dr Md Abu Jafar, were present at the meeting.

Adviser Farida Akhter said that since the formation of the interim government, a misleading narrative has been promoted, suggesting that taking strict measures on tobacco control would reduce government revenue. 

She said, "It has been presented in such a way as if the country runs on the money of tobacco companies, which is completely false and misleading".

She further said that although tobacco-related diseases cause the government to spend a huge amount of money every year in the health sector, this issue is not adequately taken into consideration. "How much revenue tobacco companies provide is discussed, but the health costs and social damage caused by tobacco use are concealed," she added.

Referring to tobacco companies in which the government holds shares, the adviser said there is no justification for the government to retain shares in companies that cause people's deaths. Rather, it is the government's responsibility to curb public harm by rendering such companies inactive.

Mentioning the role of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, she said, "He has emphasised not only enacting laws for tobacco control but also developing a comprehensive and realistic roadmap." 

She added that the Health Ministry and the National Tobacco Control Cell have jointly formulated that roadmap.

Regarding the amendment of the law, she said that if implementation activities can at least be initiated during the tenure of the current government, the next government will be able to carry them forward. 

Calling upon political parties, she said that those who truly care about public welfare must make clear commitments to tobacco control before elections.

Terming the distribution of free cigarettes or tobacco products during election campaigns as alarming, the adviser said tobacco companies are taking advantage of this practice. 

She urged the Election Commission to play a stricter role in this regard.

She expressed her hope that the effective implementation of the amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, 2005, would make it possible to achieve visible progress in protecting public health.