Md. Mujibul Haque, a senior Jatiya Party MP and chairman of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Labor and Employment, said it was necessary to limit the use of smoking and tobacco products, which are considered harmful to public health. And for this purpose necessary amendment of law is also required. This is because proper legislation can prevent smoking and reduce the direct and indirect health risks of smoking.

Md. Mujibul Haque, MP made the remarks while paying a courtesy call on a delegation of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission's Tobacco Control Project at his office at the MP Hostel of the National Parliament on 16 February noon.

The delegation led by Assistant Director of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Md. Mukhlesur Rahman included Tobacco Control Project Coordinator Md Shariful Islam, Program Officer Sharmeen Rahman and Media Manager Rezaur Rahman Rizvi. The delegation briefed Md. Mujibul Haque, MP on various activities of Dhaka Ahsania Mission on Tobacco Control.

Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Assistant Director, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, said that the Government of Bangladesh enacted the Smoking and Tobacco Use (Control) Act, 2005 in the light of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). In 2013, several important amendments were made to the Tobacco Control Act and in 2015, the Smoking and Tobacco Use (Control) Rules were formulated. However, the existing tobacco control law is largely consistent with the FCTC, but there are weaknesses in some areas. The law does not say anything about banning emerging tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, a new threat to public health, especially teenagers and young adults.

Sharmeen Rahman, program officer of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission's Tobacco Control Project, said the existing law's barriers to tobacco control include smoking in public transport and restaurants in certain areas. Emerging tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, are not banned or banned from being imported or sold. Not done. In addition, most countries in the world do not have the opportunity to buy a single stick cigarette. But there is no obligation in our country. Legal obligations are needed in this matter.

The delegation sought the support of Md. Mujibul Haque to amend the necessary laws in this regard. Md. Mujibul Haque thanked the delegation for their activities and assured necessary cooperation.#