Public Health on Top

Though the illegal concert of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB), to promote their new brand ‘Benson & Hedges Fine Cut’, has been suspended, social and mass media is busy with speculations about the fate of ‘Battle of Minds 2014’. Whether Battle of Mind 2014 will be terminated or not is a buzzing word now. Based on the passion and curiosity of the youngsters, BATB is arranging such life-tolling events gradually. Recently it organized a six-day long classy concert to attract the private university students although it had to drop curtain within two days after the tough protests of anti-tobacco platforms. The event aimed at promoting its new brand among the youths which clearly violates the Section 5.1 (A) of the Tobacco Product Usage (Control) (Amended) Act 2005. Simultaneously, BATB, at the IBA auditorium of Dhaka University, has officially declared to organize ‘Battle of Mind 2014’. The theme for this year is – Are you next is the Legacy of Leaders? Registration for the programme has already been started and will run till October 15, 2014. In the name of employment, BATB is organizing the death-marketing event since 2004 whereas according to the existing tobacco control law, it cannot organize such events or sponsor any of such events. We want a stop of the evil events, now.
Tobacco advertisements, in the name of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), are still on. On September 7, 2014, under the ‘Probaho’ project of BATB, a ruling party MP has inaugurated a ‘so called’ pure water plant before his residence in Kushtia district amid an elegant event. Tobacco companies are following advanced techniques to market the death-sticks. To mount their sells up and raise the number of newer consumers, they are heavily providing different gifts in remote rural areas in the country. Stores are used for exhibiting tobacco products and indirect advertisements, especially some trained agents are inspiring the youths to buy cigarettes of different brands at different chain superstores in the capital.
Everyone with tobacco control communities should be aware and responsive to prevent the destructive activities by the tobacco companies. We need united efforts because public health is on top.