The surrounding became darker in the evening as two young boy and girl were standing in the crowd on a bridge in Hatirjheel. The girl was decently dressed in navy blue salwar, kameez and scarf. While gossiping the girl was smoking at ease and sharing the cigar with her counterpart standing beside. Such a scenario is very much common in the capital nowadays.
The number of female smokers is not very much less than male smokers.
In order to raise awareness, various types of campaigns are being carried out. Even the prices of cigars are rising after every budget. Nonetheless, the number of smokers is increasing day by day and even many people are getting affected by passive smoking.
Research reveals that women aged between 20 to 40 years are smoking vigorously.
Most of the women smokers are students and service holders. In the beginning, they are smoking as part of fashion but later it becomes their habit and they cannot come out of it even if they want to.
Most of these women smokers claimed to have been smoking in order to reduce mental stress. Some of them said to have smoked for one to two times a day and label themselves as light smokers. Many of them enjoy smoking while gossiping. However, some of the females said to have been smoking in order to keep pace with the time and consider it as a symbol of smartness. Besides, some of them term smoking as cool fashion.
Raisa, (not real name) a 23-year-old girl, is studying in a private university. This girl belongs to an affluent family who had her first taste of cigarette out of curiosity. Then Raisa started to consume one or two cigarettes per day and now is having eight to ten sticks per day. Now, she is not only addicted to tobacco but other drugs including yaba.
The number of women smokers is increasing across the country including the capital. They are found around Dhaka University, Hatirjheel, Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Banani, Chandrima Udyan and in the smoking zones of different restaurants of the capital. Earlier, women were a bit shy while smoking but now they are doing it openly without any hesitation. Women used to purchase cigarettes with the aid of their male friends in the past but now they are buying it by themselves. Women smokers include students of schools, colleges, service holders and even housewives.
Supti (not real name), a student of Eden College of the capital got attracted towards cigarette after getting admitted in the college and seeing her two roommates. According to Supti, smart girls smoke. At first, smartness got the preference to her but now Supti has become a chain smoker.
Subject to anonymity, a housewife said that she used to puff cigars out of fun with her female friends after admission in the university. However, the fun turned into fatal addiction later on. In the meantime, she got married upon completion of her studies. Due to differences in opinion with her husband the woman became more frustrated and her addiction towards cigarette increased as well. Along with the frequency of smoking her depression increased by manifolds after giving birth to a child.
It has been learned that women smokers commenced smoking for the sake of their status which later turned into an addiction. Many women are getting addicted to deadly drugs in the long run.
Aforementioned facts relate to the affluent upper class. Women belonging to the lower class are not lagging behind as far as addiction towards cigarettes and other drugs is concerned. Women selling cigarettes around different amusement parks for the sake of their livelihood are also getting addicted to drugs.
Manosh, an organization carrying out a campaign against tobacco informed that tobacco and drug abuse has increased among Bangladeshi women in recent years. Manosh published a report in this regard in May 2019.
There is no government statistics of the number of female and male smokers in Bangladesh but Manosh, an organization working against drug alleges the figure to be more than five million.
It has been revealed from research that 43 per cent people of more than 15 years are addicted to tobacco. Twenty-nine per cent of those addicted to tobacco are women. Besides, 15 per cent of women aged between 15 to 35 years are addicted to different drugs. The figure was very much low even five years back.
However, most of the women consuming tobacco are having vapour less tobacco. Many women are getting affected by vapour from tobacco passively.
As per data provided by Manosh, 30 per cent of women are victims of passive smoking in their workplace while the figure is 21 per cent in the public places. Not only active smokers, but the number of passive smokers is increasing day by day.
Researches reveal that women smokers are at risk of becoming impotent by more than 60 per cent. Tobacco is deeply linked with abortion and smoking inflicts damages on the ovum. Smoking is also one of the primary causes of lung cancer.
Experts said that although smoking is hazardous for everyone but the degree of hazard is comparatively more in case of women as smoking causes complexities to conceive and results into the birth of a child with many physical and mental abnormalities.
Gynaecologist of Mugda Medical College Hospital, Dr Ayesha Akhtar said to The Business Post, “Smoking is very dangerous for women. It causes conditions while conceiving. Moreover, the foetus suffers from oxygen deficiency in the womb and is born underweight eventually and also suffers from different physical ailments. In addition, female smokers suffer from different diseases of their reproductive system including cervical cancer. They are exposed to different health conditions compared to non-smoking women.
Steady spurt in the number of women smokers is alarming and it is very much hazardous for the next generation. For this reason, experts opine that awareness from the family is much needed in order to refrain women from smoking.
aa/wi
