Experts for enforcement of tobacco control laws

Officials and health experts at a participatory discussion in Rajshahi on Sunday unequivocally called for strict enforcement of tobacco control laws for preventing health hazards caused by smoking in public.

Stringent enforcement of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act and related policies can be the best way of saving public health from various non-communicable diseases caused by both active and passive smoking.

They came up with the observation while addressing a training workshop for the district task force committee members and designated officers related to tobacco control law.

District administration organised the workshop at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) aimed at successful enforcement of the tobacco control law in the district through sensitising the committee members and designated officials.

With DC Abdul Jalil in the chair, Deputy Director of Local Government Division Shahana Akhter Jahan, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Towhidul Arif, Additional Superintendent of Police Abu Saleh Ashraful Alam and Senior Jail Super Subrata Kumar Bala addressed the training as resource persons.

RMP Deputy Commissioner Abdur Raquib, Deputy Director of Department of Youth Development Golam Mahbub, Deputy Director of Department of Social Services Hasina Momtaz, Secretary of Rajshahi City Corporation Moshiur Rahman and District Education Officer Nasir Uddin also spoke.

Additional DC Kolyan Chowdhury moderated the discussion.

Discussants unanimously observed that community role is the essence to build tobacco-free society, urging all to come forward and work together to attain the cherished goal.