RAJSHAHI: About six lakh people die across the world every year for passive smoking. In Bangladesh, women and children are mostly affected by it.

Speakers made the remarks while addressing a discussion organized by District Tobacco Control Act Implementation Taskforce Committee in cooperation with Association for Community Development (ACD) at Rajshahi College auditorium in Rajshahi on Sunday.

The statement said some 68 percent men and 30 percent women at their workplaces and 69 percent men and 21 percent women in transport are affected by indirect smoking which caused lung cancer, heart attack and stroke, giving birth of handicapped child, children’s ear infection and asthma.

Though the tobacco control act says smoking in educational institutions, public place, hostels, clinics, indoor playground and public transport, is prohibited but none follows it.

So, the non-smokers, especially children, are being affected. However, the teenagers feel attracted of it.

The speakers urged the authorities concerned to uphold the affect of smoking in educational institutions so students can prevent themselves from it.

Rajshahi deputy commissioner Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury was present as chief guest at the program, chaired by acting civil surgeon Dr Farhana Haque.

ACD program officer Shariful Islam Shamim presented keynote paper on smoking and its affect.

BDST: 2112 HRS, JAN 03, 2016
BD/RR