The three-day long conference on “Achieving Tobacco-Free Bangladesh by 2040” began with the participation of 40 members of parliament and other stakeholders in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday.
The event was organised by the Bangladesh Parliamentary Forum for Health and Wellbeing with the support of Shastho Shurokkha Foundation (SSF), and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Bangladesh, according to a press release.
The inaugural session was chaired by lawmaker Habibe Millat, also the chairman of the parliamentary forum.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen joined the conference virtually and appreciated the forum's effort to ensure health and safety for the people of the country.
Speaking as the special guest, lawmaker Md Abdus Shahid said that tobacco is a dangerous killer for human civilisation. Both the smoke and smokeless tobacco are hampering public health severely.
“We should bring amendments to the tobacco law so that we can stop e-smoking in the country. We may also need to be strict on tobacco consumption at public places,” he added.
AFM Ruhul Haque, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Science and Technology, said Bangladesh has achieved a lot particularly in the health sector due to the firm leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“I think it is our time to join our hands to support her vision and realise it for the sake of our people.”
Attending the event virtually, CTFK President Matthew L Myers said this is the largest parliamentary event in the world where a high number of MPs have come together to control tobacco in their country.
“CTFK will continue its support to realise the vision of making the country tobacco free by 2040,” he added.
CTFK Regional Director of South Asia Programs Vandana Shah said, “If we do not control tobacco effectively now by 2030, 80 per cent deaths will be from tobacco in low- and middle-income countries.”
In the concluding remarks, Habibe Millat said that the Bangladesh Parliamentary Forum for Health and Wellbeing is working at policy level to support the prime minister’s vision to make Bangladesh tobacco free by 2040.
“We the MPs came here together from Awami League, Jatiya Party, and BNP to amend the tobacco control law and improve public health safety. This is a unique political agreement in our country.”
The event began with the keynote presentation by SSF Executive Director Nizam Uddin Ahmed.
Bardan Jung Rana, country representative of World Health Organization Bangladesh Office, also spoke at the event.
