Amendment to tobacco control law demanded

Increased fine demanded against violators

Staff Correspondent

The Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance on Thursday demanded amendment to the tobacco control law in order to reduce diseases and deaths caused by tobacco consumption.

Leaders and activists of the alliance made the demand from a human chain in front of the faculty of fine arts in the capital.

They said, according to a survey conducted by the alliance, around 57,000 people died and 38,2000 contracted various diseases because of tobacco consumption.

The existing anti-tobacco law of 2005 was a positive step towards development of public health, but because of some loopholes in the law it could not take total effect on the people.

The cigarette companies, going against the clauses of the law, continued to find new techniques to attract people into smoking, they alleged.

A large chunk of the population is illiterate and so unable to understand the health awareness grounds.

They demanded that the government formulate a stronger law against consumption of tobacco products at the public places, transportations, offices and restaurants.

They also demanded that fine for the violators of law be increased, at least 50 per cent of a tobacco packet contain a health awareness comment with picture and all sorts of media advertisement be banned.