Staff Reporter, Dhaka : State Minister for Culture Affairs KM Khalid MP said, I will make the Ministry of Cultural Affairs smoke free including Shilpakala academy.

He said, smoking is a deadly addiction, everyone should work together to free the country from this addiction. Journalists can play vital role in this regard and spread the harmful impact of smoking and tobacco among all.

He said these while addressing as a chief guest at a program titled ‘Dhaka Ahsania Mission Tobacco Control Journalism Award-2022’ at the Ahsania Mission Auditorium in Dhanmondi on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Prefessor Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz, MP and Saifuzzaman Shikhar, MP attended the event as special guests while Additional Secretary of the Health Care Department and Coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Hossain Ali Khondkar was present as a discussant.

Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz said that the use of e-cigarettes among young people is increasing at an alarming rate. People are also being victimized by second hand smoking at smoking zones. As a result, 1,61,000 people die annually. E-cigarettes and smoking zones should be closed by amending the law. He expressed willingness to play his role in passing the amendment of the Tobacco Control Act in Parliament.

Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Senior Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of TV Today, said in the program as a speaker that recognition to journalists encourages to work at field level strongly.

Four journalists have received the ‘Dhaka Achsania Mission Tobacco Control Journalism Award 2022’ for excellent reporting on the harm of tobacco products.

State Minister for Culture KM Khalid handed over prizes and mementos to the winners, later.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission Tobacco Control Journalism Award-2022 recipients are Pinky Akhter, staff reporter of The Bangladesh Today in print media section, Solaiman Hazari Dalim, staff correspondent of banglanews24.com in online media section, Tahsina Sadique, senior reporter of DBC News Television and Shamimuzzaman Chowdhury, staff reporter of Mohana Television in TV reporting section.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission President Kazi Rafiqul Alam presided over the event while Iqbal Masood, Director of Health and Wash Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, gave a welcome speech at the program.

Among others, representatives of various anti-tobacco organizations were present on the occasion.