'Govt indifferent to enforcement of law'

Though the government enacted 'The Bangladesh Tobacco Products Usage and Control Act 2005' but the health ministry took little initiative for its enforcement, they added.

Regretting that no vigilance team or even anti-smoking posters are seen anywhere, Dr Nurul Islam, National Professor and Founder President of Adhunik, a movement to resist smoking, urged the government to launch anti-tobacco drive by forming mobile court.

Adhunik, University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC), Students' Anti-smoking Committee (SASC), Coalition Against Tobacco (CAT) and Life jointly organised the press conference ahead of the World No Tobacco Day 2006 on May 31 at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.

"The health ministry has formulated a regulation saying the act could not be enforced without the approval of the regulation which is now lying in the law ministry," said Amanullah Khan, Founder President of CAT and also chairman of news agency UNB, adding that a regulation is not a must if the health ministry is willing to enforce the act.

The speakers also urged the government to broadcast and publish anti-tobacco advertisements in the media to raise awareness among people and called people to gear up anti-tobacco movement.

Tobacco takes lives of nearly 40 lakh people every year in the world. Among the victims, 47 per cent is male and 12 is female.

The speakers also criticised the health ministry for not including the organisations working for anti-smoking movement for the last few years into the World No Tobacco Day Observance Committee and announced that they would observe the day individually.

Life Chairman Kamrul Islam Sony, Coordinator Amirul Islam, SASC President Ali Neyamat, Editor of Tobacco News AI Islam and Executive Secretary of Adhunik MA Jabbar were also present.