Public Health on Top

Tricky tobacco products’ advertisements have increased alarmingly across the country including the remote areas as well. Youths are engaged for marketing Java Black cigarettes and they are distributing the products in retail stores of rural and urban areas, wearing a polo shirt containing the company logo and an identity card hanging on their collar. Simultaneously, hawkers are hawking Black cigarette with an attractive box on their shoulder. Such advertisements of tobacco products should be stopped using the amended tobacco control law.

In line with the other parts of law violation, child labour is also prominent in tobacco farming, process and different stages of tobacco production. Such hazardous activities are hampering the mental and physical growth of the tender kids. Besides, they are deprived of their basic right- education. Based on the rural poverty, the tobacco companies are purchasing the child labour with the minimal cost. Proper Rules should be formulated so that using the existing child right policies such hazardous labour could be eliminated and also deterring child labour from such hazardous activities.

Recently, another thrilling event held that the Dhaka tobacco bosses have visited Lalmonirhat district and they flew their by a helicopter to inspire the local farmers into tobacco farming and that style also did well. Notably, a new section has been added on the amended tobacco control act to discourage tobacco production and farming, however, it is ordered to enforce through the section through Rules formulation. Such promotional activities by the tobacco companies should be banned during the Rules formulation. Moreover, being the period of tobacco cultivation, millions of tons of woods are serving as fuel for the tobacco furnaces. Deforestation is turning too common in the country, and the tobacco companies are achieving different awards for tree plantation in the guise of corporate social responsibility. Recently British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) has been awarded ‘Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Award (AREA) – 2014 on Green Leadership’ is a testimony. Such activities are undertaken to cover their evilness and create a positive image on the society. Such hypocrisies of the tobacco companies should be highlighted on the mass media.