12pc Bangladesh adolescents addicted to smoking

12pc Bangladesh adolescents addicted to smoking. Prothom Alo File Photo
12pc Bangladesh adolescents addicted to smoking. Prothom Alo File Photo

About 12 per cent adolescents are addicted to smoking in the country and nine per cent of them are boys while three per cent girls.

The Guardian of the United Kingdom unveiled this information in a report mentioning a survey recently conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The WHO conducted the survey titled “Global Youth Tobacco Survey” among adolescent boys and girls aged between 13 and 15 years in Bangladesh, India and Indonesia, reports BSS.

Among the three countries, the rate of smoking among the adolescents is the highest in Indonesia where around 40 per cent boys and girls are addicted to smoking. Of them, 36 per cent are boys and four per cent are girls.

Besides, 14.6 per cent of Indian boys and girls are addicted to smoking, the report said.

It said tobacco advertising and sales near schools were found in all of the three countries.

The most common tactics used by the tobacco companies to entice children near their schools include making products visible and accessible, advertising and product placement, and sale of single cigarettes and flavoured cigarettes.