The Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) has reiterated the urgent need for stricter tobacco control laws to a healthier future, a sentiment echoed by youth advocates during a training session titled “Advocacy of Youth Representatives in Anti-Tobacco Campaigns.”
On Monday (September 30) at Capital’s Shewrapara in thr DORP’s office the workshop, a part of a seven-day initiative, held.
25 students from various educational institutions in Dhaka actively engaged in the session, where they voiced a strong and urgent demand for the swift enactment of the amended tobacco control law.
In the discussions, participants emphasized the critical importance of implementing tougher tobacco control measures, with young advocates leading the call for action.
The workshop was facilitated by DORP’s Program Coordinator Rubina Islam. Stressing on the vital role of stricter regulations, she stated, A healthier future is the right of Bangladesh’s youth, and it starts with the enforcement of a robust tobacco control law.
She added, 75% of smokers in Bangladesh consume low-cost cigarettes. An increase in tobacco prices would place significant financial pressure on smokers, particularly those from lower-income groups, thus reducing consumption.
Workshop participants proposed key actions, including raising the price of low-cost cigarettes to curb tobacco use among lower and lower-middle-income individuals.
DORP presented six crucial proposals for enhancing tobacco control, including: Banning the sale of loose cigarettes, Limiting the visibility of tobacco products at points of sale to reduce advertising, Prohibiting tobacco companies from engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, Banning the import, production, and marketing of e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products, Prohibiting all forms of retail and loose sales of tobacco, and Expanding graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging from 50% to 90%.
The workshop also shed light on the effectiveness of current tobacco taxes, the health and economic benefits of raising these taxes, strategies to counter tobacco use, and the widespread health risks linked to smoking.
Students shared their visions for creating a tobacco-free society at the end of the workshop
Established in 1987, DORP continues to play a pivotal role in advancing development efforts across Bangladesh. Known for its groundbreaking maternity allowance program, DORP is now leading a campaign for stronger tobacco control laws and higher taxes on tobacco products which aligns with the government’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
