Staff Reporter:
Journalists working at the field of aviation and tourism yesterday observed that a strong tobacco control law is needed to abolish ‘Designated Smoking Zones (DSA)’ in public places.
They made the observation at a virtual meeting titled on strengthening of tobacco control law held be-tween Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) and Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
ATJFB president Tanzim Anwar moderated the meeting while Dhaka Ahsania Mission Deputy Director on health and wash sector Mokhleshur Rahman was in the chair.
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Bangladesh Programs Manager Abdus Salam Miah, Communication Manager Humaira Sultana and members of ATJFB also spoke at the meeting.
Md. Shariful Islam, Coordinator of Tobacco Control Project, presented the main article in the meeting.
He said that the non-smokers are suffering from the harm caused by indirect smoking due to the pres-ence of smoking zones in public places, restaurants and public transport in the current ‘Smoking and To-bacco Use (Control) Act 2005’.
Islam also said that already 67 countries of the world have banned smoking in public places.
Abdus Salam said that non-smokers as well as service workers are victims of indirect smoking if there are designated areas for smoking (DSA) in various public areas including hotels, restaurants and public transport.
Several countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Nepal, and Afghanistan, have done well in the smoke-free environment index, but Bangladesh is far behind in this regard.
However, if the draft amendment containing the proposal to cancel DSA is passed, Bangladesh will also reach the ranks of these countries.
