Photo credit: Dr Syed Mahfuzul Huq 
"Tobacco: Threat to our environment" is World No-Tobacco Day (WNTD) theme this year. The campaign is focused on the environmental impact of tobacco from its cultivation, production, distribution, and waste this year. Every year on 31 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partner organizations observe WNTD, intending to raise awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco on health, environment, economy, and society. In addition, the WHO Bangladesh advocates for more robust policies to reduce tobacco consumption in the country.
To observe the WNTD 2022, Bangladesh Parliamentary Forum for Health & Wellbeing organized a discussion session in Dhaka on 31 May 2022. Dr. Bardan Jung Rana, the WHO representative to Bangladesh, participated as a special guest. In his speech, Dr. Rana said, “Reducing tobacco consumption is not only related to good health and health-related goals. It also needs to be identified as a critical lever for achieving several other Sustainable Development (SDG). Therefore, the campaign calls on governments and policymakers to enact legislation, including implementing and strengthening existing schemes to make the producers responsible for tobacco's environmental and economic costs”. He thanked the organizers, Bangladesh Parliamentary Forum for Health & Wellbeing, for taking up the fight against tobacco, a significant threat to health and the country's development.
Ms. Fazilatun Nessa Indira, MP, Honorable State Minister for Women and Children Affairs was the event's chief guest. The Honorable chief guest emphasized making Bangladesh tobacco-free by 2040, as envisioned by the Honorable Prime Minister. She invited the International/national organizations and civil society to raise awareness among the public and policymakers on the impact of tobacco on individuals' health and the environment.
The National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) of Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Bangladesh also organized a rally to mark the occasion and published a newspaper supplement https://epaper.newagebd.net/31-05-2022/3 highlighting the harms of tobacco in 18 newspapers. Honorable President, Honorable Prime Minister, Honorable Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Senior Government Officials, and the WHO Representative marked the day with their valuable statement in the newspaper supplement.
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