Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) premises have been formally announced “smoking free zone” yesterday as a part of massive campaign to create awareness against smoking.
Adviser to the Prime Minister Syed Modasser Ali made the official announcement in two separate programmes at BSMMU in the morning and DMCH in the afternoon, organised by Madakdrabbo O Nesha Nirodh Sangstha (MANAS) in association with World Health Organisation.
Modasser Ali handed over a billboard reading “Smoking is prohibited” to the Vice Chancellor of BSMMU Prof Nazrul Islam at the seminar. Pro Vice-chancellor of BSMMU Chowdhury Ali Kawser was also present alongwith the faculty.
“As the apex medical institution in the country BSMMU should set an example to enhance the anti-smoking campaign as it is undoubtedly harmful to health,” said Prof Nazrul adding that they would soon put up billboards prohibiting smoking on every building at the university premises.
Concurrently the shops selling cigarettes around the campus would soon be closed, he said.
Prof Dr Arup Ratan Choudhury, founder president of MANAS said tobacco is responsible for death of one in every ten adults worldwide.
He also said every year almost one lakh people die in our country due to smoking related diseases, which is 16 percent of the total deaths.
"Smoking can cause some 25 deadly diseases including lung cancer, cardio-vascular diseases, brain strokes, child death etc," he said adding that according to the World Bank 350 children dying of malnutrition every day across the globe can be saved if 69 percent of the total expense on tobacco is contributed for them.
Speaking as the chief guest at the conference at DMCH Modasser Ali said the government would put its effort to make all government institutions smoke free.
"Massive persuasion as well as implementation of the Act against smoking in public is important," he added.
Director of DMCH Abdus Shaheed Khan, Principal of the hospital Deen Mohammad and film star Ilias Kanchan also spoke, among others.