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Demanding sustainable funding for tobacco control

On 8 November 2016, WBB Trust, Green mind society, Janashartho Foundation and Shubandhan Sangothon jointly organized a demonstration on the demand of “Ensuring sustainable funding for tobacco control” in front of National Press club. Activists urged to take effective measures to protect environment, public health and the economy from harmful tobacco. 

Speakers said, Bangladesh's role in tobacco control is being praised in the global arena. Financing is an important issue in the development of public health and tobacco control. As there are no separate fund of government for tobacco control, National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) is run by foreign aid organization. Bangladesh government has imposed 1% surcharge in all tobacco products which is a huge opportunity to funding tobacco control. The real purpose of tobacco companies’ activities is to increase sales and market of tobacco. Anti-tobacco movement will benefit if companies these kinds of activities can be prevented through increasing tax and surcharges. 

After being succeed to achieve MDG goal, now its time to fulfill he SDG targets. Huge funding is need to implement in this sector and this could be through increase of surcharge on tobacco products.