Saber calls for halt to cigarette production and sales
Tobacco companies in the country continue production and sales of cigarettes during the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, with permission from the industries ministry.
The ministry granted them this permission despite the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s contention that smokers were more vulnerable to the virus and were also more likely to spread the contagion.
Meanwhile, Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP has demanded that the ministry of industries revokes this approval. He had demanded a ban on the production, distribution and sales of ‘bidi’ and cigarettes during the prevalence of coronavirus.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury said it was shocking and unfortunate that even when the garments factories and other industries had been shut down in Bangladesh, permission was given for the production, distribution and sales of cigarettes.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury is the head of the parliamentary standing committee on the forest, environment and disaster management ministry and also member of the parliamentary standing committee of the planning ministry. He made this appeal in a letter issued on 20 April to the health minister Zahid Maleque.
On 4 April, United Dhaka Tobacco Company Limited issued a letter to deputy secretary of the industries ministry, Md Mokhlesur Rahman, for permission to manufacture cigarettes, purchase tobacco as well as distribute and sell the manufactured cigarettes. They termed cigarettes to be an essential item under the 1956 essential commodities act. The deputy secretary, on the following day, issued letter to the concerned ministry to extend all cooperation to the company,
In his letter, Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that on 15 April India had imposed a strict ban on the sales of liquor and cigarettes. He said it was shocking and unfortunate that even when the garments factories and other industries had been shut down in Bangladesh, permission was given for the production, distribution and sales of cigarettes. He also asked the health minister to raise the issue in parliament and call for an amendment of the 1956 act.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Saber Hossain Chowdhury said, after sending the letter he had spoken to the health minister and also a member of the national committee for the prevention of coronavirus, over cell phone. They responded positively. He said he believed the health minister would taken action soon. However, he added, if the minister did not take action, he himself would raise the matter in parliament.