Anti-tobacco campaigners on Thursday demanded the government amend the tobacco control law soonest to reduce casualties and other losses incurred by its consumption.
The demand came at an event on Thursday when four journalists were awarded for their journalistic work in creating awareness and influencing policies against tobacco menace in the country.
The campaigners praised the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for its move to strengthen the tobacco control law describing it as a timely step.
“The draft for the amendment must be finalised and passed as early as possible,” said Dr A A M S Arefin Siddique, former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University.
Dr Siddique who attended the event as chief guest said that the public opinion is now largely in favour of the amendment to the tobacco control law.
He said many premature deaths and burdens on the health system can be checked by reducing tobacco consumption with effective laws and regulations.
Mostafizur Rahman, Lead Policy Advisor for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids – Bangladesh, said there is no alternative to strengthening tobacco control laws to build a tobacco-free country as envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Dr Syed Mahfuzul Haq of the World Health Organisation in Dhaka said he also welcomed the government's initiative to amend the law.
He said the journalists have played an effective role in helping the policymakers understand the necessity for amending the law.
Professor Dr. Arup Ratan Choudhury, President, MANAS, said, "Authorities must avoid getting distracted by tobacco companies' ill tactics and make the existing law more in line with directives by the Prime Minister,” he said.
PROGGA, an anti-tobacco campaign group, with the support of the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) and Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids (CTFK), organised the Tobacco Control Journalism Award.
Each of the four awardees received Tk50,000, a certificate and a crest.
The winners are Shamimul Haque, Joint Editor of daily Manabjamin and Mohammad Al Amin, Senior Staff Correspondent of the Daily Sun (under the print media category), Mosabber Hossain, Senior Reporter of daily Prothom Alo (under the online media category) and Anowar Hossain, Staff Reporter of Desh TV.