Photo : BSS

KHULNA, May 31, 2025(BSS) – The Administrator of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) and Divisional Commissioner Md Firoz Sarkar today said that tobacco and smoking are extremely harmful to health.

“Smoking serves as a gateway to drug addiction for many youths, tobacco injures almost every organ of the human body,” he said as the chief guest in a discussion meeting marking the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ held at the conference room of the Khulna Deputy Commissioner’s office. 

This year the theme is ‘Unmask the tactics of tobacco companies, build a tobacco- and nicotine-free Bangladesh.’

The chief guest in his speech said, "Smoking does not make one smart, rather, it leads to serious physical harm."
 
He stressed the importance of organizing meetings, rallies, and courtyard sessions in educational institutions to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco.

He added that to create a drug-free society, smoking must be strictly controlled. The government has set a goal to make the country smoking -free by 2040, and to achieve this, awareness must be raised among people of all ages.  

The Divisional Commissioner urged everyone to contribute from their respective positions toward building a tobacco-free Bangladesh.

It was revealed at the meeting that more than 1, 61,000 people die annually in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related diseases. 

Currently, over 7 million people aged 30 and above suffer from tobacco-related illnesses, of which over 1.5 million are afflicted with chronic tobacco-related diseases. 

Moreover, above 61,000 children are exposed to second-hand smoking  at home, and over 435,000 children under the age of 15 suffer from tobacco-related diseases. 

In Bangladesh, smoking is responsible for 90 percent of lung cancer cases. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 harmful chemicals that damage nearly every organ in the body. Second-hand smoke   increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer among non-smokers.

The Khulna Divisional and District Administration organised the meeting in cooperation with the National Tobacco Control Cell, with Khulna Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam in the chair. 
 
Additional Divisional Commissioner (Development) Abu Sayed Md. Monjur Alam, Director of Ansar and VDP A.S.M. Azim Uddin, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Saikat Md. Rezaunul Haque, and Assistant Police Commissioner Md. Shihab Karim addressed as special guests.

Kazi Mohammad Hasibul Haque, a member of the district task force committee of the National Tobacco Control Cell, presented the keynote paper. 

Later, the Divisional Commissioner distributed certificates and awards to winners of the essay competition.

Earlier, a colourful rally began from Shaheed Hadis Park and paraded through various important city streets.