Deputy Leader of the House Prof A Q M Badruddoza Chow dhury yesterday called for motivating people against smoking and helping build a society free from tobacco, reports BSS.

Prof Chowdhury was speak Ing as the chief guest a discussion, jointly organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) on the occasion of the world no-tobacco day at UNIC auditorium here.

Chaired by Justice A K M Nurul Islam the function was addressed by WHO representative in Bangladesh Dr A N A Abeyesundere. Prof Najum-uddowla Chowdhury, Prof M A Momen, Kazi Raflqul Alam and Kazi All Reza.

Prof Mohammad Abdul Hye, Director, Cancer Institute, presented the keynote paper.

This year's theme of the day is "Health services: Our window to a tobacco- free world.

Prof Chowdhury said we can only go for legislation after strengthening the campaign against the scourge of smoking.

He regretted that while tendency towards smoking was reducing in the developed world, it was on the increase in the developing country like ours.

The Deputy Leader of the House referred to the bad ef-i fects of smoking and said pregnant women might be subjected to abortion if their husbands happened to be smokers.

Dr Abeyesundere said that per capita cigarette consumption had risen on average by over 70 per cent in developing

countries during the last 25 years and on current trends, there would be about seven million deaths a year from tobacco In developing countries within the next two or three decades.

Prof Abdul Hye In his paper suggested making hospitals as no-smoking zone in phases. He said the doctors and other employees of hospitals should also refrain from smoking in front of patients to begin with.

He said anti-smoking laws had been enacted for hospitals and other institutions related with health in 67 countries of the world.

Justice Nurul Islam said media could play a very vital role in popularising antismoking drive.

UNB adds: LG RD and Cooperatives Minister Barrister Abdus Salam Talukder yesterday underlined the need for intensifying motivational campaign against the hazards of smoking to build a tobacco-free and healthy society.

"The present government is aware of the injurious affects of stnoktng and will take necessary steps to reduce the bad habit," he said at a function of Adhunik on the occasion of World No-Tobacco Day yester-day.

Replying to a question at the meeting with media, the minister, however, pointed out problems of abruptly stopping tobacco business in the country. Alternative arrangements are needed tn this regard,, he said. "It can't be stopped all on a sudden."

Replying to-another question from footballer Kalsar Hamid, Salam Talukder said

road signs and sports sponsored by tobacco companies could not be stopped Immediately due to revenue involvement. "But the government is trying to take steps in this regard-'

Lauding the role of Adhunik tn anti-smoking campaign, the Minister urged the members of the organisation also to launch a crusade against other sorts of addiction. also detrimental to fusing on the menace of drugs, specially heroin, he said the claws of heroin and other harmful drugs spread from urban to rural areas, affecting fabric of society.

He urged the conscious segment of society to take effective steps, Including campaign and motivational training, to reduce the bad habit of smoking and make a success the government programme — "Health for All by the Year 2000."

President and Secretary General of Adhunik Prof Nurul Islam and Enayetullah Khan, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University F^of Emazuddin Ahmed and Editor to The Dally Telegraph Reazuddin Ahmed also spoke at the function, held at the Jatiya Press Club.

National Professor Nurul Islam said the theme of the day — "Health Services: Our Window to a Tobacco-free World" — would come true If all Individual, particularly health professionals, make their conscious efforts to give up the bad habit of smoking.

"A doctor who smokes cannot have a cigarette in one hand and a prescription for

quitting tobacco in another hand," he said. He stressed inclusion of anti-tobacco writings in text books and Increased alternative crop farming in tobacco land.

Enayetullah Khan, also Chief Editor of UNB. urged the gov ernment to increase tax on tobacco and spend the revenue in health sectors. Alternative crop farming Instead of tobacco is essential for reducing its harmful effects.

Stressing the need for creating awareness among the people about the scourge of smoking, Khan Urged the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to help build a tobacco-frec society.

Prof Emazuddin Ahmed, who gave up smoking today said he would try to patronise non-smoker students with scholarships. He also assured that all possible help would be extended to the Students Antf-Smoking Committee (SASC), the student wing of Adhunik •