Tobacco products selling outlets to be identified in Rajshahi

Step has been taken to identify the tobacco products selling shops and other outlets through conducting a survey in Rajshahi city aimed at preventing those from violating tobacco control law.

Under the initiative, shops will be brought under various need-based motivational campaigns besides bringing those under monitoring, supervision and licensing with the main thrust of protecting people, particularly the adolescents, from tobacco uses.

Lady’s Organisation for Social Welfare (LOFS), a non-government human rights organisation, and Aid Foundation will jointly conduct the survey in association with Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC).

The survey will be conducted in all 30 wards of RCC under the ‘Orientation on Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) Ban Violation and Tobacco Trade Licensing Survey’ project.

RCC Secretary Moshiur Rahman accompanied by chief revenue officer Nur-E-Sayeed, chief community development officer Azizur Rahman and LOFS executive director Shahanaz Parveen launched the survey programme today.

Shahanaz Parveen said utmost emphasis will be given on strengthening and mainstreaming the sustainable implementation of Tobacco Control Law through implementation of LG Guideline and support to increase tobacco tax. She said the LG guideline is an effective initiative in terms of tobacco control towards successful implementation of Prime Minister’s announcement of freeing the country from tobacco by 2040.

Giving an overview of the LG guideline along with its aims and objectives and implementation strategy, she expressed concern that tobacco companies are expanding their markets through promotional activities in the name of corporate social responsibilities which must be resisted.

Imposing restrictions on smoking in public places and transports is very important for protecting many non-smokers from various non-communicable diseases caused by smoking. Use of tobacco items causes many non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis and chronic respiratory disorder.