Bangladesh, along with the rest of the world, will observe World No Tobacco Day on 31 May. This year, the theme of the day is “Tobacco and cardiovascular diseases”. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in Bangladesh, accountable for almost a third of all deaths. Many of these deaths are premature and can be prevented by reducing risk factors for developing CVDs – especially tobacco use. In Bangladesh over 65 000 cardiovascular disease deaths are caused by tobacco use.
Each year, WNTD provides an opportunity to draw the attention of policy makers and the public to the importance of controlling tobacco through the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Controlling tobacco is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.