Stop BOM 2017, protect youths

British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) has started launching Battle of Mind (BoM) again this year in the name of employment generation. Registration for the competition has already begun and will continue till October 20, 2017. Interested applicants can apply using the BATB website link http://bit.ly/2fzXwKw. The first road show will be held at North South University on October 10 and the shows will gradually be continued to other universities as well. Final of this competition will take place after three or four months later following several stages.

Remarkably, the BATB has been organizing this death-marketing event since 2004 to attract youths in smoking and influence the policymakers. Following the Section 5 (C) of Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act, 2005 (Amended 2013), application of tobacco company name, sign, logo, trademark for arranging such competitions, sponsoring or awarding is completely banned. Even if this section of the law is violated, a monetary fine not exceeding TK 100,000 or simple imprisonment not less than three month or the both is applicable. Therefore, Battle of Minds 2017 should be stopped to protect youths from the clutch of this multinational tobacco company, BATB, in Bangladesh.