Experts Call for Stronger Tobacco Control at Dhaka Roundtable
A roundtable meeting in Dhaka highlighted the urgent need for robust tobacco control to combat non-communicable diseases and achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Experts emphasized that tobacco use causes massive fatalities annually in Bangladesh.
A high-level roundtable discussion titled 'Tobacco Control, NCDs, and SDGs: Bangladesh's Progress and Way Forward' was recently held at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka, drawing attention to critical public health challenges facing the nation. The event was jointly organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), two prominent organizations dedicated to health advocacy and awareness.
The gathering brought together several notable figures and media professionals, including Dr. Mahbub Ullah, Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruque, Zahirul Alam, Riaz Ahmad, Mortuza Haider Liton, ABM Zubair, Nadira Kiron, and Hasan Shahriar. Representatives and experts from organizations such as PROGGA, ATMA, Bangladesh Cancer Society, Channel 24, and Dhaka Tribune participated in the deliberations to address the intersection of public health, economics, and national development.
During the discussions, alarming health statistics regarding the nation were highlighted by the participants. It was revealed that approximately 71 percent of total deaths in Bangladesh are caused by various non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Furthermore, tobacco-related illnesses claim the lives of nearly two hundred thousand people in the country every year, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Addressing the roundtable, Dr. Mahbub Ullah remarked that tobacco control is not merely a health sector issue, but one that is directly related to the country's development, economy, and the protection of future generations. He added that implementing political and institutional commitments toward tobacco control would pave the way for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruque pointed out that the suffering of cancer patients vividly displays the devastating consequences of tobacco right before our eyes. He stressed that tobacco control activities must be further strengthened to safeguard public health from the destructive clutches of tobacco usage across the population.
Emphasizing the vital role of the media in addressing the epidemic, Zahirul Alam stated that the media can play a powerful role in the effective implementation of laws by building public awareness. Riaz Ahmad further added that more news reports should be published in the media by linking tobacco control with the Sustainable Development Goals and the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
