Dumpan Mukta Projannamo (Smoke Free Generation), a volunteer group formed by YPSA arranged a candle light vigil to call for stopping preventable deaths caused by tobacco use. The event took place in front of Shadinata Park, Chittagong on January 1, 2014.
Each year tobacco kills six million people worldwide and the death toll is likely to reach eight million a year if the current trend continues. In Bangladesh, 57000 people die every year due to tobacco-related diseases, while around 382000 people are becoming physically or mentally disabled as a result of tobacco use. Rate of second hand smoking is also one of the highest in Bangladesh: 63 percent of the adults are exposed to second hand smoking in workplaces.
All the participants hold candle with flame for a few minutes and wish a new year without any death causes of tobacco.
