WWomen Parliament Members’ Forum Against Tobacco on Wednesday urged for the swift amendment to the  Tobacco Control Law proposed by the Ministry of Health, to help achieve Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's vision of a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040.

A discussion meeting on tobacco control law was organized by Nari Maitree on Wednesday at the Krishibid Institute in Dhaka. 

The event provided a platform for members of the Women Parliament Members’ Forum Against Tobacco to highlight the importance of the proposed amendments to the tobacco control law without delay and to discuss strategies for achieving a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040.

The event was chaired by Shabnam Jahan Shila MP, the Convener of the Women Parliament Members’ Forum Against Tobacco.

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Women MPs Mahfuza Sultana (Women's Seat-6), Zara Jabin Mahbub (Women's Seat-7), Masuda Siddiq Rozy (Women's Seat-34), Nazma Aktar (Women's Seat-37), Anima Mukti Gomes (Women's Seat-29), Sheikh Anar Koli Putul (Women's Seat-30), Ashrafunnessa (Women's Seat-44), Kanan Ara Begum (Women's Seat-41), Laila Parveen (Women's Seat-13), Sanjida Khanam (Women's Seat-32), Farida Yeasmin (Women's Seat-35), and Hasina Bari Chowdhury (Women's Seat-31) also attended.

Shabnam Jahan Shila, MP highlighted the various activities of the Women Parliament Members’ Forum Against Tobacco.

Other forum members also emphasized that it is their responsibility to protect future generations.

They expressed concerns over the habit of smoking among the youth and stressed the importance of a social movement against tobacco at the grassroots level to support the anti-tobacco campaign.

Adrienne Pizatella, representative of Bloomberg Philanthropies, Dr. Maheen Malik, Director of the South Asian Programs for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and Masuma Alam, President of Nari Maitree also attended the meeting.