World No Tobacco Day was observed with due dignity in Rajshahi on Wednesday. Although the day is observed globally on May 31 every year, this year it is being observed at convenient times in different parts of the country since May 31.
Marking the day, a rally was brought out from the Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner's Office in the morning.
The rally paraded through important roads of the city and ended at the Divisional Commissioner's Office.
After the rally, a discussion meeting was held at the conference room of the Divisional Commissioner's Office.
The meeting was presided over by Additional Divisional Commissioner Rezaul Alam Sarkar.
Additional Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Divisional Director of Health Dr Md Habibur Rahman, PID Deputy Principal Information Officer Md Touhiduzzaman, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Anwarul Islam, and Assistant Superintendent of Police Mahmuda Sharmin Nely, among others, spoke at the meeting.
The speakers said the number of drug users in the country is increasing at an alarming rate due to the rising number of smokers.
They also said tobacco not only harms health but also negatively affects the financial condition of families.
The speakers lauded the additional taxes imposed by the government in the budget to strengthen tobacco control measures.
They demanded effective implementation and wider promotion of the provision under the Tobacco Products Usage Control Act that makes selling tobacco products to anyone below 18 years of age a punishable offence.
The meeting also raised a demand to declare smokers ineligible for government jobs to build a tobacco-free society.
Officials and employees from various government and non-government offices, NGO representatives, and prominent citizens were present at the event.