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Youth

Anti-Tobacco Youth Demand Immediate Passage of Tobacco Control Amendments

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A petition signed by nearly 10,000 youth representatives has been submitted to the government, demanding the passage of proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Law. The amendments aim to strengthen the law and align it with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The petition was handed over to top government officials, including the finance adviser and health adviser, by Nari Maitree, Development Organization of Rural Poor, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, and National Heart Foundation. The youth representatives highlighted the alarming reality of tobacco-related deaths in Bangladesh, citing statistics from the WHO Tobacco Atlas and GATS 2017.

Key Takeaways:

  • The petition was signed by nearly 10,000 youth representatives from public and private universities and colleges in Dhaka.
  • The proposed amendments aim to strengthen the Tobacco Control Law by banning smoking zones in public places, prohibiting tobacco product displays and advertisements, and protecting youth from e-cigarettes.
  • The amendments also aim to ban the sale of single-stick or loose cigarettes, outlaw corporate social responsibility activities by tobacco companies, and expand pictorial health warnings on packaging to 90%.
  • The government has already banned the import of e-cigarettes and announced a halt to domestic production.
  • Youth representatives cited statistics from the WHO Tobacco Atlas, showing that 161,000 people die each year in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related diseases, equivalent to 442 deaths every day.
  • The same statistics highlight that 38.4 million people are exposed to secondhand smoke in public transport, restaurants, and public places despite being non-smokers.
  • The government's decision to meet with tobacco companies violates the WHO FCTC and must be revoked immediately.
  • Passing the amendments will significantly reduce tobacco use in Bangladesh, improve public health outcomes, and help build a healthier, tobacco-free nation.

Statistics:

  • Nearly 10,000 youth representatives signed the petition demanding the passage of tobacco control amendments.
  • 161,000 people die each year in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related diseases (WHO Tobacco Atlas).
  • 442 deaths occur every day in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related diseases (WHO Tobacco Atlas).
  • 38.4 million people are exposed to secondhand smoke in public transport, restaurants, and public places despite being non-smokers (GATS 2017).
  • Bangladesh was the first country to sign the WHO FCTC in 2004 and consented to its Article 5.3 implementation guidelines in 2008.

Sources:

  • WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
  • WHO Tobacco Atlas
  • GATS 2017
  • National Health Research Bureau of Bangladesh
  • The Daily Star (not included as exact format is not provided)

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