(BSS) –Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today urged the youth to remain vigilant against the tricky tactics of tobacco companies, saying that if young people are aware, these companies will fail to target them.

“The Chief Adviser has urged the youth to be aware of tobacco. If they are alert, no tobacco company will be able to trap them,” she said these at a view-exchange meeting on ‘The Importance of Strengthening Tobacco Control Laws to Protect the Health of Women, Children and Youth” here as the chief guest.

The event was organized by Nari Maitree at the Kabi Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room of Bangla Academy.

The adviser said, “We have eradicated a dangerous disease like fascism—but why can’t we eliminate tobacco?”

She said that tobacco companies are targeting youth aged from 20 to 25 to earn long-term profits and also criticized the delay in amending the Tobacco Control Act.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has placed the amendment proposal before the Cabinet and meetings of high-level committee were held twice, she said, adding that yet, strong tobacco- industry-lobbying is obstructing the progress.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Sheikh Momena Moni, President of Bangladesh Cancer Society Prof Dr Golam Mohiuddin Faruk, and Director General of the National Tobacco Control Cell Md Akhtaruz-Zaman also spoke as special guests.

The meeting was chaired by Nari Maitree Executive Director Shaheen Akhter Dolly.