Teachers' Forum urges swift amendments to Tobacco Control Act for youth's health

The Teachers' Forum Against Tobacco has called for the prompt passage of amendments to the Tobacco Control Act to secure a healthier future for the younger generation.

This appeal was made during a meeting held on Saturday, at Dhaka by Nari Maitree, marking the formation of the "Teachers' Forum Against Tobacco," reads a press release. 

Nasrin Akter, Project Coordinator at Nari Maitree, in her speech, said, "Every day, 442 people in Bangladesh die due to tobacco consumption. This tragic statistic has created a severe crisis in our public health and life-saving efforts. Although Bangladesh is among the first signatories to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), we are still lagging in ensuring a smoke-free environment and in effectively prohibiting tobacco product advertisements and promotions." 

The harmful effects of tobacco spare no organs in the human body. Tobacco use significantly increases the risks of cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and numerous other non-communicable diseases. Therefore, there is no alternative to tobacco control in combating these diseases, as per the press release. 

She also expressed her gratitude to the government for taking steps to ban the import, production, use, and marketing of e-cigarettes, highlighting it as a positive move towards reducing tobacco-related harm. 

However, she emphasised the urgent need to pass and implement the remaining amendments proposed by the Ministry of Health to the Tobacco Control Act. 

These amendments include removing designated smoking areas in public places, banning the display of tobacco products, completely prohibiting tobacco companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, prohibiting the sale of single sticks of bidi-cigarettes, unwrapped and loose smokeless tobacco products, and increasing the size of graphic health warnings on tobacco packages from 50% to 90%.

Dr Khaleda Khanam, the forum's convener, stated, "Adolescents addicted to smoking at an early age are experiencing a deterioration in both their physical and mental health. According to the World Health Organizations 'Global Youth Tobacco Survey,' the smoking rate among 13 to 15-year-old adolescents is highest in Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia. In Bangladesh, approximately 12% of adolescents are regular smokers, posing a serious threat to the nation's future generation. Hence, the amendments to the Tobacco Control Act must be passed as soon as possible to protect the youth."

Shima Johur said, "Tobacco companies are using various strategies to attract young people to their harmful products. They have particularly targeted universities and colleges as major hubs. The availability of tobacco products at roadside shops near campuses, as well as advertisements, packaging, and social media campaigns, poses a significant risk to students."

Moreover, she highlighted the necessity of banning the sale of tobacco products at roadside shops near educational institutions with the cooperation of teachers and the administration. She stressed the importance of monitoring advertisements and prohibiting the sale of tobacco products in these shops.

The meeting was led by Shaheen Akter Dolly, executive director of Nari Maitree, with Dr Khaleda Islam, director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Dhaka, serving as the convener of the forum. The co-convener was Tonusree Halder and Shamima Nasrin, lecturer ideal School and colleague.