Tobacco products should be removed from the list of essential commodities

Follow the Google News feed to get the latest news from The Daily Tribunal

- Advertisement -

Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

Tuesday, May 31, World No Tobacco Day 2022. Like every year, this year too the day will be properly celebrated in Bangladesh And in order to strengthen the tobacco control activities in the world, the decision was taken at the 1987 World Health Conference to celebrate one day of the year as World No Tobacco Day. In the first year, World No Tobacco Day was celebrated on April 7, 1988, but the World Health Conference of the same year set May 31 as the date. The day has been celebrated all over the world since 1989. World Tobacco Free Day is officially observed on 31st May in Bangladesh like other countries to raise public awareness by highlighting the harmful aspects of tobacco. But National No Tobacco Day is not officially observed yet. It may be mentioned that since October 9, 2011, the anti-tobacco alliance in Bangladesh has been celebrating the National Tobacco Free Day all over the country. Over the years, organizations working on tobacco control across the country have organized meetings, seminars, sit-ins, rallies, etc., focusing on issues such as amending tobacco control laws, raising taxes, increasing smoking-free space, providing pictorial health warnings on packets, raising taxes on tobacco products Has been celebrating the day through. The use of tobacco and tobacco products has increased the level of threat to public health day by day. Due to tobacco, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, oral cancer, diabetics, asthma and other diseases are on the rise. These diseases are fatal, expensive and long-term. Even then, about 44% of adults in the country use tobacco. Some of them use tobacco through smoking and some percent use smokeless tobacco. However, studies have shown that the rate of smokeless tobacco use is higher among women than men. Smokeless tobacco products such as Jordan, rose, white leaf, etc. also cause irreparable damage to the lungs. It contains over 30 types of carcinogenic chemicals. It contains a special type of nitrosamine, which has been shown to be responsible for lung cancer. In addition to the lungs, this smokeless tobacco is also responsible for cancer of the mouth, esophagus and stomach.

Tobacco products are available at the lowest prices in Bangladesh. As a result, tobacco use is higher among the poor. Therefore, the impact of tobacco on the economy of Bangladesh is very negative. The government spends more than double the amount of revenue that the government earns from all tobacco products in the health sector.

- Advertisement -

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use and secondhand smoke account for about 12 percent of all heart-related deaths. Tobacco use is the second most common cause of heart disease after high blood pressure. According to the latest data from the US-based The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), heart disease has risen from 7th to 1st place in the list of causes of premature death in Bangladesh between 2005 and 2016, with a change rate of about 53 percent. Tobacco is the fourth most common cause of death.

Smoking not only harms the users, but also those around them cannot be free from its harmful effects. Even if they don’t want to, they are being victimized by secondhand smoke and their health is being harmed. Secondhand smoke causes both infectious and non-infectious diseases. Children, women and fetuses in particular are affected. The Prime Minister announced at the South Asian Speakers’ Conference held in 2016 that Bangladesh would be tobacco free by 2040 due to the dire health and economic risks currently being posed by the use of tobacco products in the country Today’s column is written by Dr. MM Mazed, a prominent researcher and founder of the jatio rogi kallan Society. In his column, … The word originates from the Arawakan language. The tobacco plant is native to North and South America. The dried leaves of the tobacco plant are called tobacco. Tobacco trees are 12-18 inches tall. It is a narcotic substance. Cigarettes, bidis, cigars, hookahs, and other means of smoking are prepared by burning tobacco. In addition to smoking, tobacco is also used in various mediums such as jorda, khaini, nasya. The main narcotic ingredient in tobacco is nicotine, a type of neurotoxin that acts on a type of acetylcholine receptor (cholinergic acetylcholine receptor).

- Advertisement -

Initially, tobacco cultivation was low, but since the beginning of 2009-10, tobacco companies have been tempting farmers to increase the price of leaves. This enabled the companies to bring more land and new districts under tobacco production than before. Extensive land has been brought under tobacco cultivation in different parts of the country especially in Rangamati, Chalanbil, Natore, Jessore, Jhenaidah, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Rajbari, Manikganj, Paturia and TangailAnd most of the farmers in Bangladesh are poor. Even if they take one crop home, they do not have any money to produce new crop. So the house is sold and new crops are grown. Tobacco companies are taking advantage of their poverty. Farmers have resorted to tobacco cultivation to provide conditional fertilizers, pesticides and other benefits. Farmers are being forced to cultivate tobacco due to various strategies of the company. Due to this he had to choose tobacco cultivation reluctantly. For example, the tobacco company is giving a loan of Rs 20,000 per acre of land. Besides giving seeds and fertilizers. It is not going to be profitable to cultivate paddy, jute or other crops in this land. The cost of cultivation is not going to be reimbursed due to low prices. And there are natural disasters. But the idea of ​​farmers is that even if they work harder in tobacco cultivation, their income is higher. It is not possible to leave this cultivation and cultivate vegetables for two consecutive years. Although fertilizers and pesticides were obtained by complying with the conditions given by the company, they are being forced to cultivate tobacco even after knowing the harmful aspects of tobacco cultivation. Although various NGOs have pointed out the harmful aspects of tobacco cultivation and suggested to plant alternative crops, the farmers are reluctant to accept it. This is because if new crops are planted on tobacco land, good results will not be obtained at first. So the farmers are falling into the temptation given by the company and are inclined to cultivate tobacco.

Tobacco contains the toxic substance nicotine. It also contains various carcinogenic substances, such as benzopyrene, a multicellular aromatic compound. If as much tobacco as there is in a cigarette enters the body, quick death is inevitable. However, as a result of smoking, life expectancy is gradually reduced and tobacco also has serious harmful effects on heart disease. Tobacco residue can enter the heart and cause cancer and death. And because of this most of the people are suffering from various diseases. Smoking colon cancer has been identified as the main cause of death of legendary Bangladeshi writer, novelist, playwright and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed. According to a survey, 60,000 people die every year due to smoking in Bangladesh and 11 thousand crore rupees are spent due to tobacco.

- Advertisement -

Tobacco cultivation in food lands is threatening food security, environment and public health. Tobacco cultivation is taking over the lands of various food stores. As a result of tobacco cultivation in the land, the amount of food production is decreasing. As a result, there is a shortage of food for the growing population every year.

Tobacco cultivation is not only a threat to food security, it is harming the people in all areas of cultivation, production, processing and marketing of this poisonous plant. During the tobacco leaf picking season, housewives, men, children and teenagers all have to work in the field together. At this time the children earn money from school and work in the field with their parents. As a result, it is difficult for the children of tobacco farmers to continue their education. Thus, a large number of children are being deprived of the light of education due to disruption in their education.

> Damage to tobacco health: –

Smoking is a deadly bad habit. Statistics show that 1 lakh 61 thousand people die of tobacco related diseases every year in Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands more became paralyzed. Tobacco is still used by about 40 million adults in the country. It causes diseases like cancer. Smoking and tobacco use are temporarily better, but there is no benefit. Tobacco smoke contains about 35 carcinogens and smokeless tobacco contains 24 carcinogens. Carcinogens are substances or chemicals that cause cancer or help to cause cancer. In addition to carcinogens, tobacco contains nicotine, which causes intoxication and increases blood vessel sensitivity. The result is high blood pressure. In addition, it causes ulcers inside the blood vessels and fatty substances accumulate there. As a result, blood flow is obstructed. Once upon a time

Maybe the blood flow is completely stopped. This can lead to stroke. Tobacco use can cause cancer of the lungs, larynx, mouth, esophagus, esophagus, stomach, bladder, kidneys, cervix, breast and pancreas in women. Other than cancer, smoking causes high blood pressure, stroke, angina pectoris, asthma, bronchitis, digestive disorders and some skin diseases. Another complication of tobacco use in pregnant women is low birth weight and shortness of breath. So if you have smoked and used tobacco, quit today.

> Ways to get rid of tobacco

There are many smokers who have no lack of goodwill in quitting tobacco. It may take some time for you to quit because you are a tobacco addict. Discuss tobacco and tobacco products with your doctor or others. However, tobacco can be avoided through self-will, mental strength and determination: 1. You have to decide for yourself – strengthen your willpower, increase your willpower and set a date for quitting tobacco products. Any time with mental preparation goes without tobacco. Set a date and time on the calendar and start the exclusion from that day moment. 2. No tobacco products can be kept in the surrounding environment such as home, office and car. It is better not to go around people who smoke. 3. Motivation and support – such as tell your family, friends and colleagues to encourage you to quit tobacco and tobacco products regularly. 4. Group-based measures – Group measures are very effective in quitting tobacco. In this case, group based activities provide encouragement and motivation. 5. If necessary, consult a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, psychiatrist or homeopathic doctor or health worker. 6. New techniques – If you want to smoke, then you have to move your mind to the other side. This is possible by talking to someone, walking, moving. 7. Exercise, play sports, read books, and engage in prayer, prayer, meditation, and religious activities to reduce stress. This will reduce the mental instability and will act as a supportive force in quitting tobacco and smoking.8 . Drink plenty of water and pure liquid food. 9. If necessary, take the advice of a doctor. The first few days after quitting tobacco can lead to various physical problems. Such as headaches, depression, fatigue, depression, constipation, nausea, insomnia, loss of appetite, restlessness, etc. However, it is possible to live a healthy, beautiful and wholesome life by strongly resisting these problems and by eliminating tobacco and smoking through will power.

Finally, I would like to say that tobacco products should be removed from the list of essential commodities by amending the Essential Commodities Control Act of 1956 as soon as possible. And in order to build a tobacco free Bangladesh, one has to give up the ownership of the tobacco company. It is not tobacco but new sources of revenue that need to be explored. At the same time, it is expected that the government will play an effective role in implementing the Prime Minister’s Declaration of ‘Tobacco Free the Country by 2040’ through proper implementation of the guideline published by the Ministry of Local Government to control the use of tobacco products. In that case, it can be said that in future one day production, supply and marketing of all kinds of tobacco products will be stopped in Bangladesh. To make way for this, cigarettes need to be removed from the list of essential commodities. Otherwise it will be difficult to ensure the implementation of other laws.

- Advertisement -

Latest

He jumps from plane with Shakib’s picture on chest

Entertainment Desk It has been heard for quite some time...

Bhutanese king visits Special Economic Zone in Kurigram

Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Thursday (24...

FM sees progress in efforts to free hijacked ship, crew

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said there has...

Take effective steps to get maximum benefit after LDC graduation: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked all concerned to...

Why Emirates & the UK are now main sources of expatriate income

Mohammad Osman Chowdhury, UAE, (Dubai) Analysts say that Dubai, the...

Newsletter

Don't miss

He jumps from plane with Shakib’s picture on chest

Entertainment Desk It has been heard for quite some time...

Bhutanese king visits Special Economic Zone in Kurigram

Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Thursday (24...

FM sees progress in efforts to free hijacked ship, crew

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said there has...

Take effective steps to get maximum benefit after LDC graduation: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked all concerned to...

Why Emirates & the UK are now main sources of expatriate income

Mohammad Osman Chowdhury, UAE, (Dubai) Analysts say that Dubai, the...

He jumps from plane with Shakib’s picture on chest

Entertainment Desk It has been heard for quite some time that this birthday will create a special atmosphere for Shakib Khan. The trailer of the...

Bhutanese king visits Special Economic Zone in Kurigram

Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Thursday (24 March) visited the proposed Special Economic Zone for Bhutan in Madhabram area under Bhogdanga union...

FM sees progress in efforts to free hijacked ship, crew

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said there has been progress in the government's efforts to free the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah, which was...