RAJSHAHI, – Speakers at a discussion here today said the role of police forces is very important for successful enforcement of the tobacco control act for protecting the public health from various diseases caused by the consumption of tobacco products.

” Gross violation of the existing tobacco control act continues in restricted areas, including public places, threatening public health,” they
told at a workshop at Police In-service training Center in Rajshahi city.

Association for Community Development (ACD), a rights-based non-government entity, organised the workshop styled “prevention of smoking and drug- addiction and health protection” in order to create awareness among the policemen.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Muhammad Shahidullah, Superintendent of Rajshahi Divisional Police Hospital Dr Nazrul Islam and ACD Programme Officer Krishna Rani Biswash addressed the meeting as resource persons with Additional Superintendent of Police Kamrun Nahar in the chair.

Shariful Islam Shamim, advocacy officer of ACD in his concept paper presentation, narrated various harms of smoking and uses of other tobacco
products.

He said imposing restrictions on smoking in public places and transports is very important for protecting many non-smokers from various chronic
diseases caused by smoking.

He said forging a social movement has become an urgent need for ensuring hundred percent smoke-free public places and transports for freeing millions of passive smokers from various harmful effects.

Dr Nazrul Islam said the uses of tobacco items cause many non-communicable diseases like cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis and
chronic respiratory disorder. He said some tobacco companies are expanding their market through promotional activities in the name of corporate social responsibilities, which must be resisted.

Dr Islam viewed the government has amended the law to make it more stringent because of growing tobacco use in the country. The law also bans
the selling of cigarettes to those below 18. In his remarks, SP Muhammad Shahidullah said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared that the country would be freed from tobacco use by 2040.

He added that all sorts of necessary measures would be taken to make the premier’s announcement a total success in the district. He urged the attending police personnel to play their due role for effective implementation of the existing tobacco control law.