Staff Correspondent

Stressing on the importance of the mass media, speakers at a workshop called upon journalists to play their due role for reducing the use of tobacco products in the country.

In Bangladesh, 39.29 million adults, constituting 17.6% of the population aged 15 years and older, use tobacco, with the prevalence rate being the second-highest in South Asia after the Maldives (WHO-2022). Cigarette, bidi and smokeless tobacco like gul and zarda are commonly used in Bangladesh and South Asian countries.

There are negative effects on our economy, health and environment due to tobacco. Journalists, through their writings, should continuously disseminate anti-tobacco messages, to save the nation from disaster, they said.

Urging journalists to come forward, they said journalists can play a unique and vital role in raising awareness about the dangers of smoking and in building public support for tobacco control initiatives.

They made the observations while addressing a workshop with journalists ‘on the present situation of tobacco cessation in Bangladesh: Challenges and way forward’ at BIAM Foundation at New Eskaton in the capital.

Referring to the challenges such as inactive role of the task force, formed to contain tobacco, weak political commitment, lack of implementation and weakness of law, and lack of massive awareness campaign, they said journalists can highlight the matters, which will draw the attention of the policymakers for taking effective steps.

Strong mass media role can motivate the concerned departments and the ministry to take proper steps for addressing the issue so that Bangladesh can achieve the goal of a tobacco free country by 2040, they observed.

The media plays a critical role in the anti-tobacco initiative. Journalists have the power and mechanism to reach the public and motivate the policymakers, they said, adding that collaboration between journalists and anti-tobacco organizations is needed so that the journalists can get accurate data on tobacco.

Bangladesh Blind Mission (BBM), an organization working on health and disability issues, organized the event under the project titled ‘Increase awareness on tobacco harm reduction in South Asian countries’.

Joel Ahmed, president of BBM, presided over while Brigadier General (retd) Khondoker Mohammad Mozammel Haque, adviser of BBM, attended as the chief guest. Mohammad Shamsal Islam, epidemiologist of education department of Ispahani Eye Institute and Hospital, presented a keynote paper, while Shuvashis Mahanta Nantu, independent consultant trainer, presented another keynote paper on tobacco.

Faria Sultana, consultant of BBM, Umme Kausar Sumona, coordinator of BBM, among others spoke. A total of 32 journalists mainly from the print and online media attended the workshop on Wednesday.