In a bid to ensure fully smoking-free environment, two anti-tobacco advocacy organisations –-PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA)— on Monday proposed that the ban on smoking be extended to all public places, workplaces and public transport, including abolishment of ‘designated smoking zones’ provided in public places and work places.

Participants at a workshop on Thursday urged the government to amend the existing tobacco control law immediately to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040.

Progga and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) on Thursday insisted on collecting Tk 11,000 crore additional revenue from tobacco sector as it could prevent 600,000 premature deaths in the long run.

Experts on Tuesday urged the government to increase prices of tobacco products in the upcoming budget to deter users from using them and generate additional revenue.

A group of citizens has urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to impose a temporary ban on the marketing and sale of all tobacco products during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect public health.   The list of 100 signatories, including economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, convener of National Anti-Tobacco Platform and National Prof Brig (retd) Abdul Malik, sent a letter to the PM, said a press release.   According to WHO, the use of tobacco increases the risk of coronavirus infection and also serious illness due to lung disease or reduced lung capacity, they said.   They mentioned in their letter that tobacco products also weaken the immune system, making it extremely vulnerable to coronavirus infection.   A number of countries including India, South Africa and Botswana have already taken this WHO warning very seriously and imposed temporary ban on the sale of all tobacco products, they added.   The eminent citizens including Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, former vice-cChancellor of Dhaka University, emphasised utilising the global experience to effectively combat the spread of novel coronavirus.