BARISHAL, Feb 11, 2024 (BSS) - Speakers at an anti-tobacco seminar today said about 4.8 crore non-smokers are being affected due to the smokers.

According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey in 2018, they said, about 3.78 crore people are taking tobacco. About 1.51 lakh people die annually due to using tobacco in the country while the treatment cost is about Taka 8,000 crore, they added.

The speakers said this while addressing a seminar at the meeting room of the divisional commissioner, said a release.

Tobacco Control Cell orgainsed the seminar with divisional commissioner Md Showkat Ali in the chair.

It was disclosed in the seminar that the government has earned about Taka 22,000 crore as tax from tobacco while the treatment cost due to tobacco is about Taka 30,000 crore.

The speakers urged all to create social movement to eliminate the uses of tobacco.

Tobacco Control Cell coordinator Md Aktharuzzaman, health department director Dr Shyamol Krisna Mandal, Local Government Division director Khandaker Anowar Hossain, additional police commissioner Hasan Showkat Ali and additional police super Faruque Hossain, among others, addressed the seminar.