World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is celebrate worldwide every year on May 31st highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death globally and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2013 is: “Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship”. World No Tobacco Day is the perfect time to stop smoking.
Each year YPSA also observe the day. This year YPSA arranged different events to observe this day in 11 districts of Chittagong Division jointly with District Tobacco control Taskforce, Civil Surgeon office, local NGOs and BATA.
In Chittagong
YPSA organized a colourful rally and human chain on 31st May at the front of press club of Chittagong district demanding to ban tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship and raise tax on tobacco products in upcoming national budget. Mr. Giaus Uddin, councilor and Mr. Sarfaraj Kader Rasel, councilor of CCC, Mr. Md. Shahriar from ATMA member, Mr. Md. Helal from DRISTI, Mr. Salauddin Suman from Barnali, Dr. Rubel from Nirmal Foundation, Mr. Mohammed Ali from YPSA delivered their speeches. The speakers stressed to ban tobacco advertisement, increase tax on tobacco products in upcoming budget, take action to stop tobacco cultivation, stop misleading information of tobacco companies, strong enforcement of TC amendment bill 2013 and continue campaign in media etc. ATMA members, BATA members, NGOs, students, Youth group, professional group, media, YPSA’s smoke free volunteers group and Smoke free coalition participated in the program. The program was jointly organized by YPSA, ATMA and BATA.
A talk show on tobacco control has telecasted on 31st May from Chittagong Television where the significance of World No Tobacco Day, Harms of smoking or tobacco use and ban tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship issues have discussed.
1103 schools in Chittagong district became smoke free on the occasion of WNTD’13
On the occasion of World No Tobacco day, Ms. Hosne Ara Begum, district education officer (DEO) of Chittagong district circulated a notice on 30th May’ 13 to schools of Chittagong district to ban tobacco smoke in school premises. She sent the circular to schools of 14 Upazillas and 6 metropolitan areas of Chittagong district. As a result of it 1103 schools and Madrasa became smoke free. And the students of all the schools will be protected from the secondhand smoking and harms of tobacco smoke.
In Rangamati
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day’ 13 a discussion meeting was arranged in Rangamati District on 31st May at Shishu Noketan which was organized jointly by District tobacco control Task force and YPSA. The meeting was presided over by the Civil surgeon Dr. Mostafizur Rahman while the President of Tobacco Control Taskforce and District Commissioner of Khagrachari district Mr. Mostafa Kamal was the chief guest. There were some other guests who were present there as special guests like –Mr. Moniruzamman, Police Super, Mr. A. K.M Maksud Ahmed, Journalist of Daily Giri Darpan, Mr. Sunil Kanti Dey, president of Press club, Mr. Mostafa Kamal, journalist and Mr. Jasim Uddin from YPSA and others. The key note paper was presented by Dr. Binod Shekhor Chakma, Medical officer of Civil Surgeon Office. The speakers raise a demand to strong ban on tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship, enforcement of Tobacco control law, increase awareness among the people, raise tax on tobacco products, harms of tobacco consumption, stop the interference of tobacco companies and operate mobile court frequently. Since tobacco is mostly cultivates in Hill tract areas including Rangamati district so the speakers also stressed to ban tobacco cultivation.
In Comilla
YPSA also observed World No Tobacco Day’ 13 in Comilla on 31st May. A rally and a discussion meeting were arranged. The rally was started from Town hall at 08 am. After the rally a discussion meeting held at Civil Surgeon Conference Room. The meeting was presided over by Dr. Abul Kalam Siddque, Civil Surgeon, Comilla where chief guest was Mr. A.K.M Bahauddin Bahar M.P. Comilla Sadar and special guests were Mr. Md. Tofazzal Hossen Mia, District Commissioner of Comilla, Dr. Mujibul Hoque, Deputy Civil Surgeon, Md. Jamir Uddinm Khan Jompy, Commissioner of Comilla City Corporation, Mr. Azizur Rahman Siddque, President of BMA, Comilla. The speakers demanded to increase tax in the upcoming budget, ban tobacco advertisement and harms of second hand smoking. NGOs, professional group, media, Smoke free coalition and civil society participated in the program. The program was jointly organized by YPSA and District Tobacco control Taskforce.
