Speakers urges journalists’ role for combating use of tobacco products

Speakers at an event called on journalists to play role in raising awareness among people about the negative effects of tobacco products.

Tobacco is harmful to human health, environment and the economy. Hence, it is urgent to combat it, and journalists can play a significant role in this regard, they said.

The observations were made at a training programme for journalists titled ‘The negative effects of tobacco products and ways to combat it’ at Cicily Chinese Restaurant in Natore district town today (Wednesday).

Bangladesh Blind Mission (BBM), a NGO working on health and disability issues, organized the event, aimed at raising awareness among people for preventing the use of tobacco products.

Nasiruddin Hirok, an official of BBM, moderated the event. About 25 journalists in the district attended the event.

Khondker Abdeul Islam, admin and finance manager of BBM, gave the welcome address, while Tareque Mahmood, project officer of BBM, discussed about the main purpose of the programme.

Calling upon journalists to play their role in raising awareness on tobacco, Shuvashish Chandra Mohanto, a nationally renowned development consultant, said journalists should play an important role for the sake of national interest.

It is possible to depict the situation, caused by the use of tobacco products, and also possible to aware people of the tobacco-related risks through the reports and writings of journalists, he said.

While inaugurating the programme, Farazi Ahmed Rafik, president of District Press Club, thanked the organizer for arranging such event, saying that event like this would motivate journalists to raise awareness on tobacco through their reports.

While participating at the event, journalists vowed to raise awareness among people by raising awareness among them on tobacco.