DHAKA: The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Tuesday demanded display of pictorial warnings alongside messages on the packages of all tobacco products, including ‘bidi’ and cigarettes, as a measure to cut down consumption of the harmful stuffs.

The demand came from a discussion organized by the CAB on ‘Strengthening Tobacco Control Law regarding Packaging’ at Dhaka Reporters Unity with Advocate Humayan Kabir Bhuiyan, general secretary of the CAB, in the chair.

As most people in country are not literate, they could not read the warning message on the packs of bidi, cigarettes or tobacco, said the discussants to substantiate their suggestion.

Graphic images on cigarette packages showing yellow teeth, blackened gums, bulging neck tumours and bleeding brains alert smokers to what they face just by smoking, researcher Iqbal Masud said during a power-point presentation.

In his keynote speech Iqbal said, “As per CAB survey, 97 percent respondents are in favour of pictorial warning since it would help giving up the bad habit.

Terming smoking ‘suicide’, Dr Nurul Islam, National Professor and President of ‘ADHUNIK’, explained that a smoker meets with death before ‘expected’ lifespan.

He suggested the government should declare all heathcare and educational institutions across the country ‘smoking-free zone’.

Prof. Saiful Islam, Dean of BSMMU Surgery faculty, Advocate Shawkat Ara Begum MP and Prof. Arup Ratan Choudhury, among others, also addressed the meet.

BDST: 1425 HRS, June 22, 2010
RT/SMS/MUA