Photo: BSS

KHULNA, April 28, 2025 (BSS) – Smoking and the use of tobacco products are extremely harmful to public health. To protect public health, smoking must be completely banned in public places and public transport.

The observation came up in a meeting of the Khulna Divisional Taskforce Committee, formed to implement the Smoking and Using Tobacco Products (Control) Act 2005 (Amendment 2013), today in the conference room of the Divisional commissioner.

Additional Divisional Commissioner (Education and ICT) Debprasad Pal was in the chair.

He emphasized the need for strict control over the production, use, sale, and advertisement of tobacco products.

He called for strengthening drive of mobile courts within 100 meters of educational institutions, parks, and healthcare facilities.

He also instructed that "No Smoking" signage must be visibly installed at all public places and in the public transport.

Additional Divisional Commissioner (Development) Abu Sayed Md. Monjur Alam, Director of the Divisional Social Services Office Anindita Roy, Assistant Director of Khulna Divisional Health Department Dr. Arpana Biswas, and BRTA Director Md. Ziaur Rahman, among others, spoke at the meeting.
The Project Director of AID Foundation Kazi Mohammad Hasibul Haque, presented the keynote paper.

The meeting reported that around 1,20,000 people die annually in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related diseases. More than 7 million people aged 30 or above are suffering from tobacco-related diseases and out of them about 1.5 million are affected by chronic illnesses.
 
Besides, over 61,000 children are victims of passive smoking at home, and more than 4,35,000 children under the age of 15 are suffering from tobacco-related diseases.

Officials from various government departments, NGO representatives, and members of the Divisional Taskforce Committee attended the meeting.