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Representatives of the Bangladesh Parliamentary Forum for Health and Wellbeing (BPFHW) recommended the concerned ministries and directorates to accelerate the amendment of the existing Tobacco Control Act and increase the tax and price of tobacco products.
The forum expressed their suggestions during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Tobacco Control Cell, said a press release on Tuesday.
The prime minister has announced to make the country tobacco-free by 2040 to protect public health from the effects of tobacco.
Following this, a letter signed by 152 MPs was sent to the health minister last year at the initiative of the Parliamentary Forum, demanding the amendment of the existing Tobacco Act.
As part of that initiative, representatives of the forum met Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Senior Secretary Lokman Hossain Mia, National Tobacco Control Cell Additional Secretary (World Health) Director Kazi Jebunnesa Begum, and Coordinator (Additional Secretary) Hossain Ali Khandaker to discuss the progress of the activities.
At that time, the officials ensured that by taking the demands of the MPs very seriously, the work of amending the Tobacco Control Act is being taken forward.
The national development agency Shastho Shurokkha Foundation, acting as the secretary of the Parliamentary Forum. Executive Director of the organization Dr Nizam Uddin Ahmed and Director Rafiqul Islam were present during the meeting.
