Member of Parliament and former minister Biren Sikder has demanded the government bans the use of e-cigarettes as it is equally harmful for the human body. He made the demand during a meeting with a delegation of the Tobacco Control Project of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) at his residence at the Nam Bhaban in Dhaka on Monday. DAM project coordinator Md Shariful Islam led the delegation having its members (media manager) Rezaur Rahman Rizvi, and project official Sharmin Aktar Rini. Biren Sikder said that there are many misconceptions about e-cigarettes among the common people. “But it is equally harmful as the conventional cigarettes for the human body. So, it should be immediately banned”, he added. Read: Ban on display, sale of tobacco products on passenger ships demanded He thanked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for incorporating the issue of banning the e-cigarettes in the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act. He hoped it would be possible to completely free the country from tobacco use by 2040 if the proposed amendments to the existing law are passed by the parliament. Biren Shikder MP said that cigarette companies encourage young people to smoke for their own benefit. But it is a major reason for many diseases. “Since there is no benefit from smoking, non-smokers are equally harmed by second-hand smoke,” he said. The delegation sought his support in passing the draft law prepared by the Ministry of Health to further amend the Tobacco Control Act in the Parliament. Biren Shikder, MP congratulated the delegation for their activities and assured necessary cooperation.