World No Tobacco Day Today

World No Tobacco Day-2022 is being observed today (Tuesday) in the country as elsewhere in the world highlighting the health and other risks associated with tobacco usage, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

To mark the day, various anti-tobacco organizations have chalked out programmes.

This year's theme for World No Tobacco Day in Bangladesh is ‘Tobacco threat to our environment’, an official handout said.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the day.

In his message, the President said tobacco has massive harmful effects on environment.

Cigarette and Biri smoking is one of the reasons for indoor air pollution, he said, adding that tobacco consumption and smoking increase the risk for cardiac arrest, stroke, cancer, diabetes, asthma and different non-communicable diseases.

Abdul Hamid said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that tobacco would be eliminated from Bangladesh by 2040.

In this regard, ensuring proper implementation of tobacco control laws and regulations is very important, he mentioned.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said tobacco cultivation, processing and consumption are causing severe damage to the environment.

She said the incumbent Awami League government included the matter of tobacco control in the 7th and 8th five-year plans to achieve SDGs.

She hoped her government will be able to make a tobacco-free Bangladesh with the united efforts of all to build a Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The President and the Prime Minister wished an all-out success of all programmes for World No Tobacco Day 2022.