Staff Reporter, Dhaka : Tobacco farming is a major threat to sustainable food security in Bangladesh. Therefore, for the sake of food security of the country’s public, it has been demanded to take the initiative to grow food crops instead of tobacco and to pass the draft amendment of the Tobacco Control Act.
The speakers made this demand in the discussion meeting titled ‘Grow food, not tobacco’ organized on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2023 on Tuesday (30 May 2023) morning at Dhaka Ahsania Mission Auditorium, at Dhanmondi.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 34.9 million people in 79 countries in the world suffer from extreme food insecurity. In such a situation, it is very important to consider ensuring food safety as a priority. Therefore, for the sake of food security, initiatives should be taken to grow food crops instead of tobacco cultivation. Tobacco cultivation is mainly done in the rabi crop season and at that time various vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, and paddy are not cultivated, a harmful crop is being produced in this land. Public health is being threatened by producing products containing nicotine like cigarettes, bidis, and Jorda. The main article in the discussion meeting was presented by Shariful Islam, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project, Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
At the event, the Chairperson of SDF Abdus Samad said that in terms of the total land used for tobacco cultivation, Bangladesh ranks 13th in the world. To stop tobacco cultivation in the country in the future, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of tobacco. In such a situation, it is necessary to quickly pass the draft amendment to the Tobacco Control Act in the 2023-24 financial budget. Besides, e-cigarettes need to be banned for protecting youth.
The speakers in the discussion meeting said that due to the mixing of chemical fertilizers and pesticides used in tobacco cultivation in the river water, fish breeding is under threat and health protection is being disrupted. Therefore, passing the amended law with priority to public health is the need of the hour.
The meeting was presided over by the President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Kazi Rafiqul Alam where Coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell and Additional Secretary, Health Services Division Hossain Ali Khondkar, CTFK-Bangladesh Lead Policy Advisor Md. Mostafizur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Cancer Society Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruk, National Professional Officer of the World Health Organization Syed Dr. Mahfuzul Haque and many others were present.
Iqbal Masud, Director of Health and Wash Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, gave a welcome speech, and the program was moderated by program officer Sharmin Akhter Rini.