The government will soon declare industries and factories smoke-free zone, Industries Minister Amir Hossain has said.
Responding to the demand of two anti-smoking and anti-drug organisations, industries minister Amir Hossain Amu made the announcement on Tuesday.
The minister was talking with the representatives of Amra Dhumpan Nibaran Kori (ADHUNIK) and Campaign Against Tobacco (CAT) at a meeting held at his office.
The Ministry of Industries will issue a circular regarding the matter, he said.
All the industries will also be asked to have separate smoking zones on the premises of the industries and factories.
The initiative will be taken to protect the health and ensure safety of the industrial staff, said Amu.
The minister said the government passed the amended Tobacco Control Law 2013 to control production and use of tobacco and tobacco related goods.
He said under the Tobacco Control Rules 2015 smoking in public places and public transport has been prohibited.
As a continuous process of discouraging production and use of tobacco, Amu said the government would also consider further duty increase in importing tobacco and tobacco-based productions.
ADHUNIK president and chairman of private news agency UNB Amanullah Khan and CAT president Ali Niamat led their respective team to the meeting.
