Speakers at a virtual discussion viewed that the current tobacco control Act needs to be amended to ensure  cent percent smoking-free environment for the expansion of the tourism and hospitality sector.

There should be no  smoking zone in the restaurants to protect non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand smoking, they said. 

Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Aviation and Tourism Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) hosted the event and discussed the necessity of amending the Smoking and Tobacco Usge (Control) Act 2005. 

Read:WHO to launch initiative to help 1.3 bln people quit smoking

The event held on Tuesday was chaired by Nadira Kiran, President, ATJFB and News Editor, ATN Bangla. 

Lead Policy Advisor of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Bangladesh Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Grants Manager Abdus Salam Mia, Senior Policy Advisor Md. Ataur Rahman Masud, Communications officer Sarkar Shams Bin Sharif, Assistant Director of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Mukhlesur Rahman, Tanzim Anwar, General Secretary, ATJFB and Online Incharge, BSS, spoke at the meeting.

Md. Shariful Islam, Coordinator, Tobacco Control Project, presented the keynote paper at the meeting where Rezaur Rahman Rizvi, Media Manager, Dhaka Ahsania Mission moderated the meeting.

Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Lead Policy Advisor of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Bangladesh, said that non-smokers have the right to protect themselves from the dangers of secondhand smoking.

Read:USAID launches new clean energy project in Bangladesh

But the number of victims of secondhand smoking is higher, he said. 

"That is why smoking in all types of public places should be banned. In this case, the media can convey this message to the government on a regular basis."

Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Assistant Director, Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health Sector, said that 63 countries, including Canada, Spain and Nepal, have laws prohibiting smoking in public places. 

According to the law of the country, designated smoking area can be kept in public places, restaurants with one room not bounded by four walls, multi-room public transport (train, launch) and non-mechanical public transport, he said. 

He said section 7 of the Smoking and Tobacco Usge (Control) Act 2005 should be amended to prohibit smoking in all public places and to ban the use of any type of tobacco.

Read:Eye-care unit to open at Bangladesh-Korea Friendship Hospital this month

Nadira Kiran said a tourism-friendly environment is essential for the development of the tourism sector. 

The members of ATJFB participated in the meeting organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission in collaboration with Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.