Public Health on Top

The rapid expansion of tobacco farming is a serious threat for the food security in Bangladesh. The cold blooded tobacco companies are gradually leading the country and her population towards a food scarcity and tobacco-epidemic. Although the policy making level, civil society members and even the respective government bodies are entirely aware of the issue, there is no significant advancement to prevent the initiatives adopted by tobacco companies. Anti-tobacco platforms are also active over the issue. Pointing out the destructive roles of tobacco, they are implementing different programmes and activities round the year. Recently, marking the World Food Day 2014, the tobacco control communities had organized a good number of countrywide programmes to attract attention of the authority to stop tobacco companies’ aggression. The programmes underscored on formulation and implementation of a tobacco farming policy to check tobacco farming for ensuring food security, and to provide alternative profitable farming options to the farmers. Notably, about 108,000 hectares of croplands have been used so far in 2013 – 14 tobacco farming season which is about twice comparing to 2010 – 11 season. If the current tobacco farming rate persists, the country undoubtedly will fall victim of food shortage soon.
In the same way, to accelerate the tobacco-epidemic, tobacco companies are cunningly grabbing concentration of the policy makers and of the youths by attempting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and few employment opportunities. Recently, British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) had organized a concert for the private university students to promote its fresh brand ‘Fine Cut’, and it also conducts another programme annually named - Battle of Mind for recruitment among the youths. Besides, in the name of organizing seminars in private universities, tobacco companies are trying to draw the youths in death-marketing. However, it is awful that the tobacco companies are being awarded after such heavy misdeeds. On October 18, 2014, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) honored BATB and the event received intensive media attention.
On the other side, due to the interference of the tobacco companies, the Rules finalization for the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act 2005 (Amended in 2013) is still in dark although 20 months have been passed after amendment. Protection of the public health, economy, and environment - ecology from the death-marketing claw of tobacco companies’ is a timely demand now. Let’s work together to enforce the tobacco control law by unmasking the veils of death-marketing.