Government announces Secretariat a smoking-free zone

The government has declared its Secretariat, the country’s central administrative hub, a smoking-free zone.

The cabinet division recently wrote to the secretaries of all ministries to ensure that the announcement is obeyed.

The move follows a request by the health ministry centring on the Prime Minister’s announcement.

PM Hasina had announced that tobacco consumption should be brought down to a zero level by 2040.

According to a 2009 global survey, at least 43.3 per cent people consume tobacco products in the country.

Some 57000 people die and 0.382 others are crippled after consuming tobacco products every year.