Meherpur News, June 8, 2010: A special discussion meeting was held in Meherpur on the theme “The Impact of Tobacco Product Marketing on Men and Women, Especially Women.”

The meeting was attended by 80 women along with officials from both the district and upazila levels.

On the morning of Tuesday, June 8, the event was organized jointly by Subah Social Development Organization and Development and Human Rights Organization “Jiboner Jonno”, with the support of WBB Trust. It was held at the Meherpur District Council Auditorium in observance of World No Tobacco Day.

Dr. Abdus Shahid, Member Secretary of the District Task Force Committee on the Implementation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act and the Civil Surgeon of Meherpur, attended as the Chief Guest.

The meeting was presided over by Abdur Razzak, President of the Upazila Task Force on Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) Implementation and the Executive Officer of Meherpur Sadar Upazila.
Nazma Yasmin, District Women Affairs Officer, attended as a Special Guest.
Palash Khondaker, Executive Director of “Jiboner Jonno” and a distinguished journalist, delivered the welcome speech.
The keynote paper on the main theme was presented by Rafiq-ul-Alam, renowned journalist, columnist, and advisor to the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance.

The session was moderated by journalist Yeadul Momin.

Speakers at the event highlighted the various harmful aspects of tobacco and urged the government to amend the current tobacco control law. They also demanded an increase in taxes on tobacco products to help curb their usage.