The Barishal District Tobacco Control Task Force Committee on Tuesday held a meeting to strengthen the implementation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 (amended in 2013).
The meeting, organized by the Civil Surgeon's Office at the Deputy Commissioner's conference room, was chaired by Additional District Magistrate Upoma Farisa.
Addressing the meeting, Upoma Farisa said tobacco use causes serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, cancer and respiratory illnesses, while also exposing non-smokers, particularly children, to significant health risks through second-hand smoke. She stressed the need to ensure smoke-free homes and raise public awareness through the media, educational institutions and social organizations.
She also called for regular mobile court drives by the district task force to enforce the law and bring violators to justice, adding that local public representatives would be involved in promoting smoke-free environments.
Among others, Civil Surgeon Dr SM Monjur-E-Elahi, Regional Director of the Department of Social Services Sajjad Parvez, Medical Officer Dr Md Ejaz Hossain, and District Secondary Education Officer Mohammad A Jabbar attended the meeting, along with government officials, NGO representatives and journalists.
