Public Health on Top

Tobacco company partonizing classical music! ITC Sangeet Research Academy (ITC-SRA) is in fact a wing of ITC Limited, the largest tobacco company in India. Since BAT has 30 per cent share on ITC, the ITC-SRA also helps greatly to expand tobacco business of BAT. With the name of organizing ‘Bengal Classical Music Festival’ every year, BATB is expanding its tobacco business. It is noted the the BATB installed a pont of sale (POS) and a smoking zone at the event venue, Army Stadium, which ensures their involvement with the entire music festival. However, the venue is public place and after the law –is a smoking-free area. The company may run the similar activities at the upcoming festival scheduled from November 24 – 28, 2016. A strong vigilance from the administration is a must here.
It is a tricky measure for BATB to expand their tobacco business by showing off an event worth billions to recruit a couple of students. Despite stringent actions from the anti-tobacco platforms, Battle of Mind 2016 went on. The event could have been closed if the administration had an effective intervention. But for some mysterious reasons, BATB is being awarded instead of halting its events. Very recently, BATB has been awarded by the government for its good governance, accountability and transparent corporate culture in production sector which has raised eyebrows from different quarters over the government’s activities on tobacco control and to protect the public health.
Tobacco company ill tactics and interferences should be stopped by formulating policies after section 5.3 of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Otherwise, achieving a tobacco-free Bangladesh, pledged by the Honorable Prime Minister, will remain a dream forever.