He made the call while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled 'Non-communicable disease control and necessary actions to protect future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine' organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.
The health minister said the prevalence of non-communicable diseases is increasing in the country due to lack of awareness. Since tobacco is one of the leading causes of cancer, it is leading to premature deaths. Awareness must be created in every family about the harmful aspects of tobacco and nicotine to protect future generations.
He said awareness pictures and messages need to be propagated more widely to highlight the harmful aspects of tobacco. Especially, adolescents should be made aware of the dangers of tobacco from an early age.
The minister also stressed the need to take more effective, integrated and timely measures in line with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Presided over by Dhaka Ahsania Mission Vice-President S M Dr. Khalilur Rahman, the seminar was addressed, among others, by Professor Dr. Syed Md. Akram Hossain, Chairman of the Clinical Oncology Department of Bangladesh Medical University; Sheikh Momena Moni, Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division; and former BCIC Chairman Mostafizur Rahman.
