An orientation meeting on “Tobacco-free Hospitality Sector Strategy” was held today on 22 July at 11.30 AM in the Conference Room of the Bangladesh Tourism Board office. Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM ) and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) jointly organized the meeting which was presided by Dr Bhubon Chandra Biswas, Additional Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Bangladesh Tourism Board. He said, “Written instructions to follow the Tobacco-Free Hospitality Sector Strategy will be sent to the associate institutions of Bangladesh Tourism Board, and all the institutions under the board will be completely smoke-free”. Mr Md Khairul Alam Sheikh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) attended the meeting as a Special Guest. In his speech, honorable guest mentioned that the written guidelines prove that implementing the Tobacco-Free Hospitality Sector Strategy is indeed very important issue. Mr. Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Assistant Director and Project Coordinator, DAM Health Sector, presented the Tobacco-free Hospitality Sector Strategy Paper through power point. High officials of Bangladesh Tourism Board, their associated institution representatives and anti-tobacco activists were present at the meeting.
In order to control and reduce tobacco usage all around the world through comprehensive actions, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) had been approved in 2003, and Bangladesh was the first country to sign it. As a continuation of the efforts, the Government of Bangladesh enacted “Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005” and formulated necessary rules in 2006. In 2013, the Government amendment the law to make it more compliant to the FCTC and formulated the rules in 2015. The Law prohibits smoking in all the public places. It has been observed in many instances that the smoking incidences (both active and secondhand) are relatively higher in the hospitality sector than what is in other public places. The public places in hospitality sector include hotels, motels, guesthouses, resorts, restaurants, bars etc. WHO conducted the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in 2017, and according to the report, at least 50% population has been becoming exposed to secondhand smoking in restaurants. In order to protect the non-smokers who are getting exposed to the harmful consequences of tobacco use while receiving the services from the hospitality sector, orientation on the strategy paper has become a necessity for Bangladesh Tourism Board.
Photo caption: Dr. Dr Bhubon Chandra Biswas, Additional Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Bangladesh Tourism Board is delivering his speech during the orientation meeting on Tobacco Free Hospitality Sector Strategy Paper.