DHAKA, Sept 26, 2024 (BSS) – 'Anti Tobacco Youth Convention 2024' was held at NGO Affairs Bureau Auditorium in city's Agargaon area today.

The Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) organized the convention with the goal 'Active participation of youth is essential for creating a Tobacco free Bangladesh', a press release said.

During the convention, youth representatives took an oath to strongly oppose Tobacco and pledged to raise public awareness from their respective positions, the release added.

Md Saidur Rahman, Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau, and Md Mostafizur Rahman, Lead Policy Advisor of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Bangladesh, and former Chairman of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation were present, among others, on the occasion.

Md Saidur Rahman said, "Strict regulations should be enforced on smoking in public places. While it may not be possible to completely ban smoking, we can certainly impose restrictions, especially in educational institutions and healthcare centers."

Md. Mostafizur Rahman stated that from the Language Movement to the Liberation War, the youth have proven their success.

"So why can't they succeed in Anti Tobacco campaigns? Our farmers are suffering losses, yet the Tobacco business is growing. The youth must take steps to stop this deadly industry."

"We need to enforce Anti Tobacco laws and increase Taxes and price on Tobacco products," he added.

During the convention, several key proposals were put forward for amending the draft Tobacco Control (TC) law formulated by the Health Services Division in alignment with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

These proposals include - eliminating designated smoking areas in all public places and public transport to protect non-smokers, banning the display of Tobacco products at points of sale to prevent their promotion, prohibiting corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by tobacco companies, banning the import, production, use, and marketing of e-cigarettes or emerging heated Tobacco products, ending the retail and open sale of Tobacco products, and increasing the size of pictorial health warnings on Tobacco packaging from 50% to 90%.

After the discussion session 7 youth champions were awarded crests.

Since its founding in 1987, DORP has played a pioneering role in various development initiatives in Bangladesh, especially in introducing maternity allowances.

To date, DORP has successfully implemented numerous projects across 74 Upazilas, 30 districts, and 5 divisions. In line with the government’s Sustainable Development Goals, DORP is committed to advancing tobacco control laws and working to raise taxes and prices on tobacco products.