BATA demanded punishment of Japan Tobacco International For violation tobacco control law

Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) demanded punishment of all national and multinational tobacco companies for violating tobacco control law, including Japan Tobacco International (JTI), Dhaka Tobacco Company. Today demonstration and memorandum submission program against law violation by Japan Tobacco International (JTI) held in front of National Press Club at 10 AM. A memorandum was also submitted to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC).
Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, Senior Vice President of National Anti TB Association of Bangladesh (NATAB) said, due to strong tobacco control law implementation, large graphic health warning, awareness on health risk of tobacco consumption, increased taxes on tobacco products, tobacco consumption at developed countries reducing. That is why; multinational tobacco companies (like Philip Moris, British American Tobacco and JTI) are doing massive propaganda among developing and poor countries like in Bangladesh.
Rafiqul Islam Milan, Technical Advisor of Manobik said, Section 12 of Tobacco Control Act says: “The production and the use of tobacco and tobacco products in the industry to be discouraged and to discourage tobacco crop production and farming, the government may make necessary policy.” So formulation of national policy is mentioned in the law to discourage establishment of tobacco industry and protect public health. The signing of MoU to manufacture harmful products of tobacco at this stage deserves special consideration at the national level.
Ibnul Sayed Rana, Chairman of Nirapad Development Foundation said the company had made a box-shaped dyanlara which is shown with a hanging line at cigarette store in the country which is punishable offense under Section 5 of Tobacco Control Act. Violation of TC law, the penalty has been sentenced to three months and 100,000 Taka fines or both imprisonment and the person who commits a second or repeated periodically similar offense shall be liable to twice the same punishment.
Syeda Anonna Rahman, Work for a Better Bangladesh National Advocacy Officer said, recently marketing of JTI’ s Wilson cigarettes by DTI is a clear violation of tobacco control law which greatly encourage purchases. It increases the possibility of threatening public health at a large scale. These companies distributing free cigarettes, T-shirts, mobile phones, rice cookers, ceiling fans, magic burner etc in many places for tempting the consumers. They are also distributing large umbrella with their logo at points of sale with many tong shops to the local vendors with their logo and misleading phrases of Wilson brand which is contrary to tobacco control law.
BADSHA President Advocate Mahbub Alam said though government enacted Tobacco Control Act, but in different ways law violation by DTI and JTI that have been taken in order to entice people to smoke is extremely reprehensible and punishable. If we cannot resist this at field level, public health is likely to be heavily threatened. He added if t stern action against the two companies is taken, companies in the future will be careful and have to comply with the laws.
Speakers called upon National Tobacco Control Cell and urged the authorized officer to prepare infringement alleged by Dhaka Tobacco Industries and Japan Tobacco Industries through highly and other measures to prosecute against two companies.