Dainik Mathabhanga, June 1, 2015
Staff Reporter:
With the slogan “Stop the illicit trade of tobacco products”, rallies and discussion meetings were organized in Chuadanga and across Bangladesh to mark World No Tobacco Day. The event was jointly organized by the District Administration, Health Department, District Task Force Committee, AID, PASS, and Protyasha.
On Sunday morning at 9:00 AM, a rally began from the Civil Surgeon’s Office courtyard, which marched through the main roads and ended at the Nursing Institute where a discussion was held. The event was presided over by Chuadanga Civil Surgeon Dr. Azizul Islam, with Chuadanga Deputy Commissioner Mr. Delwar Hossain as the chief guest.
He stated that smoking and tobacco use are silent killers, leading to lung and oral cancers. When the damage becomes visible, it is often too late, and death becomes inevitable. Due to a lack of awareness, people consume cigarettes, raw tobacco leaves, gul, and zarda, resulting in about 57,000 deaths per year in Bangladesh due to cancer. Bangladesh has the highest rate of oral cancer deaths globally, primarily due to these harmful products.
The government has passed tobacco control laws, and public awareness has grown. Smoking in public transportation has decreased. Tobacco cultivation not only depletes soil fertility but also harms the health of those involved. Public advertisements promoting smoking have ceased, and any violations will be dealt with legally.
Other attendees and speakers included:
- Senior Health Education Officer Robzel Hossain
- Assistant Superintendent of Police Golam Benazir Ahmed
- Dr. Mezbabul Haque
- Dr. Paritosh Kumar Ghosh
- Dr. SM Nuruddin Rumi
- Dr. Waliur Rahman Nayan
- Dr. Tariq Hasan Shahin
- Dr. Abul Hossain
- Golam Murshid Dalim
- Chuadanga Press Club President Md. Mahtab Uddin
- Elias Hossain (PASS Executive Director & Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance Member)
- Arifur Rahman (Assistant Coordinator, Protyasha)
Jibannagar Bureau:
A rally and discussion were organized with support from AID Jhenaidah, jointly hosted by Usha and the Upazila Task Force Committee. Chief Guest UNO Nurul Hafiz and Dr. Rowshan Ara Begum (UHFPO) presided over the event. Usha Coordinator Alomgir Hossain discussed this year’s theme.
Gangni:
Tobacco users face various physical, economic, social, and familial issues. Aggressive marketing by tobacco companies is increasing the number of users. A social movement is required alongside legal enforcement.
At a discussion event, Gangni UNO and Task Force President Abul Amin stated that companies use manipulative marketing.
Organizers: Upazila Task Force Committee, Swadesh, Ashroy, ORD, AID, SPIUS, CSEUS, HRDP, and the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance.
Participants included:
- Inspector (Investigation) Moktar Hossain
- Cultural Personality Sirajul Islam
- Project Implementation Officer Dilip Kumar Sen
- Lecturer Hossain Bin Mintu
- Abdul Bari (PSKS)
- Helal Uddin (The Hunger Project)
- Mohibul (SPIUS ED)
- Journalists and citizens from various sectors
Meherpur:
At 9:00 AM on Sunday, a rally started from the District Shilpakala Academy led by Deputy Commissioner Mahmud Hossain. The rally ended in front of the DC office, followed by a discussion in the conference room.
Organizers: District Task Force, AID, Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, and Anti-Tobacco Alliance.
Speakers included:
- DC & Task Force Committee President Mahmud Hossain
- Civil Surgeon Dr. Mohammad Azizur Rahman Siddiqui
- Additional Superintendent of Police Moha. Ahmar Uzzaman
- Anti-Tobacco Alliance Advisor & Journalist Rafiqul Alam
- NGO Association President Mosharraf Hossain
- Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha ED Moin-ul-Alam Bulbul
- AID Program Officer Touhid-ud-Doula Reza
- Various NGO representatives and transport union leaders
Jhenaidah:
A human chain was organized at 11 AM at Post Office intersection by the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), Khulna Division.
Speakers:
- M. Saiful Mabud (Kaler Kantho)
- Nizam Zowardar Babul (ATN Bangla/News)
- M. Raihan Uddin (Ekusher TV, Janakantha)
- Shiplu Zaman (RTV)
Maheshpur:
With support from AID Jhenaidah and execution by human rights organization RDC, a rally and discussion were held in the UNO’s conference room.
Speakers included:
- UNO Nasima Khatun
- RDC Chief Abdul Rahman
- Khairul Anam (Adhikar Mancha)
- Dr. Mahabub Alam
- Zainal Abedin (AID Maheshpur)
- Ishanur Rahman (Maheshpur Subas Committee President)
- Hafiz Al Asad (AC Land)
- Meherunnesa (PIO)
- Mizanur Rahman (Youth Development Officer)
- Press Club VP Adhir Sarkar
- Representatives from Women’s Affairs Dept., AID, RDC, and others
Public Commitment:
Two smokers, Mosaref Hossain and Rohit Das, pledged to quit smoking and handed over their cigarettes and lighters to the UNO in front of all attendees.
