State Minister for Culture Affairs KM Khalid Monday said he would make the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy smoke-free.
He was speaking at the program "Dhaka Ahsania Mission Tobacco Control Journalism Award 2022" in the capital's Dhanmondi.
At the event, Professor Md Abdul Aziz MP said the use of e-cigarettes among young people is increasing at an alarming rate.
"People are also being victimised by second-hand smoking at smoking zones. So, 161,000 people die annually. E-cigarettes and smoking zones should be closed by amending the law," he added.
Four journalists received the Dhaka Achsania Mission Tobacco Control Journalism Award 2022 for their reporting on the harm of tobacco products.
They are Pinky Akhter, staff reporter of The Bangladesh Today in the print media section, Solaiman Hazari Dalim, staff correspondent of banglanews24.com in the online media section, Tahsina Sadique, senior reporter of DBC News, and Shamimuzzaman Chowdhury, staff reporter of Mohana Television in the TV reporting section.
Khalid handed out prizes and mementoes to the winners.