Public Health on Top

British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) is conducting its promotional activity not only at Classical Music Festival, it is sponsoring on making films as well to promote its business. The BATB has become one of the sponsors for Dhaka Attack – a movie sponsored by Police Family Welfare Society. The BATB logo has been used in the banner and credit line of the movie marking its first teaser exhibition event. Besides, despite the ban on all types of branding after the tobacco control law, the company has spent around Tk 193 crores for its brand marketing. Such illegal activities should be stopped for public interest. By the same time, tobacco company’stricky advertisements and promotional activities should be stopped byeffective implementation of the law.
Tobacco farming season has begun and the farming grabs a huge amount of lands across the country. The government is about to discourage tobacco farming and by the same time assisting the tobacco companies in different ways. The tobacco farming control policy should be implemented soon to protect the public health, food security, environment and ecology. Achieving the tobacco-free Bangladesh, pledged by the Prime Minister, will be prolonged unless the ill tactics of tobacco companies cannot be prevented.