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Bangladesh Peace and Development Mission (BPDM), Rovers and BNCC of Govt Titumir College and Hasana-Shams Foundation jointly observed the International No Tobacco Day Wednesday.
A colorful rally with horse drawn carts paraded the city streets. The rally was inaugurated by Principal of Govt Titumir College Md Azizur Rahman on the college campus.
Among others, Faizur Rahman Chaudhury, Hasina-Shams Foundation adviser, Farida Benta Lutfor, BPDM president MMA Bashar and Secretary Israt Jahan, Mostafa Dulal, Salma Jahan, Shahnur Kabir, Abdus Salam, Mehedi Hasan, Abdul Alim, AJ Saleh Ahmed, Md Nazimuddin Bhuiyan and Fazilatun Nesa were present on the occasion.
Azizur Rahman thanked the government for passing the Smoking and Tobacco Usage (Control) Act 2005. The law bans smoking in public places and transports with a provision for penalty.
But this ban is almost inoperative due to lack of monitoring. Strong monitoring is needed, he added. Rahman said another law is required to be passed to ban sale of tobacco to babies and teenagers.
He added smoking is a serious problem in Bangladesh. But it is not being properly addressed. Government as well as the non-government organisations (NGOs) should come forward with motivational campaign against tobacco.
He said that as per WHO report smoking is the second major cause of death. So this problem needs proper attention of all concern.
The rally ended in front the National Press Club. About three hundred members of the organisations participated in the rally.
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