Dhaka, Apr 13 (UNB)- The results of a recent nationwide survey say that although nearly every restaurant-owner in the country thinks the regulations prescribed in the Bangladesh Tobacco Control Law should be followed adequately – a disproportionate number of them are being needlessly lenient by still allowing their customers the freedom to smoke in their premises,  which are considered ‘public places’ .

The findings are parts of a ‘Nationwide Survey on Compliance with Bangladesh Tobacco Control Law in Restaurants’, a recently revealed survey conducted by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM).

The detailed survey report with so intriguing insights was revealed and discussed today at the DAM auditorium in their head office in Dhanmondi on Saturday.

DAM’s Assistant Director & Project coordinator Md. Mukhlesur Rahman inaugurated the program while Director of its Healthcare Sector Iqbal Masud presented the findings of the survey.

Former Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Mohammad Ruhul Quddus, National Anti-Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB)’s Executive Director Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Head of programs at Voice Azmal Hossain, Program Officer of National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) Aminul Islam Sujan, Country Manager of Vital Strategies Nasir Uddin Ahmed, News Editor of ATN Bangla News Nadira Kiron, The Union’s Technical Consultant Mahbubul Alam Tahin (LLB) were present among the guests and shared their opinions in the program.

“Among the participators in this nationwide survey, 73.7% of the participators have the membership of Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association (BROA) while only 29.2% know about BROA’s Anti-Smoking strategies,” said Iqbal Masud.

“82.9% participators in the survey know that restaurants are classified as a ‘public place’, according to Bangladesh Tobacco Control Law. Altogether 99.7% of the participators have agreed that the law should have proper implementation, and 93.7% of those who know the law have implemented the Anti-Smoking rules. Yet, only 63% among the participants use Anti-Smoking signs and only 43% of them properly follow the instructions. And 7.5% have allowed their customers to smoke in their restaurants, even arranging customised compartments known as Smoking Zones,” he continued.

NTCC’s Program Officer Aminul Islam Sujan said “Despite certain limitations, NTCC is constantly working to assure the implementation of the tobacco control law in public places.”

Chairing the program, Former Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Mohammad Ruhul Quddus said the mindset of people should get reformed and we all should respect the proper implementation of law in our country, only then this issue can be resolved.”

The survey highlights some key issues such as the increasing popularity of creating ‘smoking zones’ in restaurants to avoid the punishments of public smoking, and concern regarding the mindsets of both customers and workers who smoke in restaurants.

The speakers conveyed their concerns over the fact that many customers including children and the vast majority of non-smoking people are also getting affected due to the smokers at restaurants, which are considered as public places according to Bangladesh Tobacco Control Law.

DAM’s tobacco regulatory program conducted the ‘Nationwide Survey on Compliance with Bangladesh Tobacco Control Law in Restaurants’, in order to measure the current scenario of this problem. The nationwide survey was prepared over a two year-period with the participation of 372 restaurant owners drawn 16 districts covering all 8 divisions.