World Youth Day Tomorrow: Only Tobacco-free Youth can Build a Healthier Bangladesh

Tomorrow (12 August 2021, Thursday) will be observed as World Youth Day. The day is of particular significance for Bangladesh, a country the youth make almost half of the entire population. They are the real craftsmen behind the advancement of Bangladesh. However, if they become addicted to tobacco, they will not be able to realize the dream of a developed Bangladesh. Even tobacco addiction can make them a burden to the state. Only a strong tobacco control law can protect this demographic from tobacco's poisonous embrace.

 

On the occasion of World Youth Day, anti-tobacco research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) has raised the demand for strengthening tobacco control law through an amendment so that it would keep the youth free from tobacco.

 

According to the latest information provided by Tobacco Atlas, in Bangladesh, the number of tobacco users aged between 10 to 14 years is more than 172,000. Getting hooked on tobacco at such an early age gradually decreases the ability of lungs. It also hampers the natural growth of lungs with age. Tobacco is also responsible for lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, premature aging, mental unrest and several other serious ailments. According to World Health Organization (WHO), those who start lighting up in their adolescence are 3 times more likely to become an alcoholic and 22 times more likely to become cocaine-addicted. It is not merely an addiction, rather a gateway to other disastrous addictions. In addition, tobacco products also facilitate Covid-19 infection and increase the risk of serious illness once infected.

 

In his comment on the occasion of World Youth Day, ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA, said, 'Tobacco is colossal impediment that needs to be overcome to build a healthy generation. To discourage the youth from tobacco the existing tobacco control law should be amended at the earliest to make it more time-fitting and strong.'

 

To safeguard the youth from tobacco, the amendment must include banning display of tobacco products at points of sale, banning sale of single stick of bidi and cigarette, banning sale and import of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, increasing the area for Graphic Health Warning on tobacco packs to 90 percent, and eliminating provisions for designated smoking areas in public places and transportations.