Dhaka: Anti-tobacco move got a new momentum as works for making country’s all police stations smoking-free began Monday following a government initiative.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun announced the plan Sunday at a seminar here marking the World No-Tobacco Day. And freeing the police stations from the hazards of tobacco consumption started from Ramna Model Thana in the capital on Monday afternoon.  

National Anti-TB Association of Bangladesh (NATAB) and Bangladesh Mohila Sangbadik Forum jointly held the seminar titled ‘Bad impacts of tobacco goods on women’.

The minister informed that the Finance Minister would be requested to raise prices of tobacco and tobacco goods, by way of budgetary measure like high taxation.

“All police stations of the country will be made tobacco-free in phases,” Home Minister Sahara told the seminar.

The World No-Tobacco Day Monday was observed in the country as also across the globe Monday (May 31) with various programmes in tune with the WHO-given theme ‘Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women.’

May 31 is marked as World No-Tobacco Day to heighten public awareness about the hazards of tobacco use and abuse, educate the public on the marketing and business strategies employed by the tobacco industry.

BDST: 213 HRS, May 31, 2010
SRR/RT/TA/SMS/LY/MUA