Photo:BSS

NATORE, April 16, 2025 (BSS) – A total of 1,61,000 people die annually in Bangladesh due to use of tobacco, said Subhashish Mohanta, National Consultant of Bangladesh Blind Mission while presenting a keynote paper at a workshop here today.

“Globally, Bangladesh accounts for 1.3% of total tobacco production and ranks 13th in terms of land used for tobacco cultivation,” he added.

In this connection, he said that tobacco products contain over 4,000 harmful chemicals, including nicotine, arsenic, DDT, tar, formalin, and bitumen. Among these, 43 are conducive to cancer development. 

The day-long workshop titled "Harmful effects of tobacco use in Bangladesh and ways to overcome it", was organized aimed at raising awareness and explore strategies to achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040.
 
President of Natore Press Club Faraji Ahmad Rafiq Babon inaugurated the workshop was organized by the non-governmental development organization Bangladesh Blind Mission.

Khandaker Abedul Islam, Manager of Bangladesh Blind Mission, presided over the opening session of the event while Nasir Tareq, Organizer of Bangladesh Blind Mission, delivered the welcome address.

Presenting the key-note paper on the topic, Mohanta also highlighted the detrimental effects of tobacco farming, including the reduction of agricultural land and increased healthcare expenditure
. 
He said use of tobacco must be reduced aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 while tobacco control laws must be enforced to this end.

The workshop, held under a project named "Raising Awareness to Reduce Tobacco Harm in South Asian Countries", saw the participation of 25 media professionals working in Natore district.