World No Tobacco Day today (Wednesday).

The day is observed every year to make people aware of the negative sides of smoking and the consumption of tobacco products.

To mark the day, various anti-tobacco organizations have chalked out programmes.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages wishing all the programmes on the day a success.

In South Asia, Bangladesh is in the top position in smoking and consuming smokeless tobacco.

Smoking and smokeless tobacco cause cancer, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, asthma and many long-term diseases.

Besides smokers, non-smokers people are also affected by smoking. Smokeless tobacco products, including dip, snuff, snus, and chewing tobacco are responsible for various diseases including cancer.

Health experts said around 1.60 lakh people die of diseases related to tobacco consumption every year in the country which is five times higher than Covid-19.

Many volunteer organisations have been working in the country to discourage people not to consume tobacco. 

They alleged that smoking in public transport and public places are not been stopped yet. They want the proper implementation of the law to stop tobacco consumption in public transport and public places.

Meanwhile, National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) said they are working to amend the existing law and implementation of law properly.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul