Opinion – TheStatement24

Jan192026 by Statement DeskNo Comments

A Bold Step Toward a Tobacco-Free Future

Professor Dr. ArupRatan Choudhury Bangladesh is one of the world's top tobacco users, about3 crore 78 Lakh of the country's adult population uses tobacco products in any form.According to the Tobacco Atlas, 2025 around 130,135 people die fromsmoking each year in Bangladesh. In 2025 there is major leap taken by the interim government for amendedtheSmoking and Tobacco Products Usage (control) act 2005. The government already issued gazette notification of this act. on 30 December, 2025 to protect our economy and future generation from the harm of tobacco usage. Section 2 provides various definitionsof the law/ordinance that expanded existing one and included new definition. With existing tobacco products, this ordinance includes emerging tobacco products, such as e-cigarette or elec...

Aug82025 by No Comments

Our Health, Their Profits: A Call to Stand against Tobacco Industry Interference

Breaking News, Opinion

Marjana Muntaha On 13 July, during a meeting of the Advisory Committee on amending Bangladesh's Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act 2013, it was decided to invite representatives of the tobacco industry to participate in discussions on the proposed amendment. The profit motives of tobacco companies and the public's right to health can never align. In 2003, Bangladesh made a groundbreaking move. It became the first country in the world to sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). It was a moment of pride, a declaration to the global community that our nation would lead in protecting people, especially future generations from the devastating grip of tobacco. But that historic promise seems to be fading by choosing to invite tobacco industry’s...

Jun232025 by No Comments

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025 Protecting Our Future: Urgent Need for Comprehensive Drug Prevention

Breaking News, Opinion

Professor Dr. ArupRatan Choudhury Every year on June 26, the world comes together to observe the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. In 2025, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has chosen a powerful and timely theme: “The evidence is clear: invest in prevention. Break the cycle. #Stop organized crime.” This theme carries an unmistakable urgency. It calls on all of us—governments, communities, and families—to invest in strong, evidence-based prevention programs to safeguard our younger generation from the devastating grip of addiction. The age-old wisdom that “prevention is better than cure” finds its strongest relevance in the fight against drug abuse. Addiction isn’t like most other diseases. When left unaddressed, its consequences extend ...

Mar32025 by No Comments

The tobacco epidemic is still one of the world’s deadliest threats

Breaking News, Opinion

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus & Dr. Adriana Blanco Marquizo There remain about 1.3 billion tobacco users globally, prompted by a multibillion-dollar industry that peddles addictive and deadly products and profits from the suffering of those who use them [Daniel Acker/Bloomberg] In the past 20 years, tobacco use has dropped by one-third globally, and there are an estimated 118 million fewer tobacco users today compared with 2005. Why? In large part because 20 years ago this week, after years of negotiation, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) entered into force – one of the most widely embraced United Nations treaties in history. The WHO FCTC was, and remains, a landmark in international law: the first treaty negotiated under the WHO Constitution, incorpo...

Feb72025 by No Comments

The Next Generation Trapped in Weak Parenting!

Breaking News, Opinion

Rezaur Rahman Rizvi For the past few days, one of the most talked-about news headlines across social media and mainstream media in Bangladesh has been the case of 11-year-old Arabi Islam Suba, a student of class six who went missing from Mohammadpur, Dhaka. When her father posted about her disappearance on Facebook, the post went viral almost instantly. People from all walks of life, including media personalities, shared the post and urged everyone to help find her. The news was widely covered by all major media outlets, and law enforcement authorities took the matter seriously, ultimately locating her. Most aware readers are already familiar with this case. However, this discussion is not about Suba’s disappearance or recovery but rather about the significant role that weak parentin...

Jan122025 by No Comments

A Bold Step for a Healthier Future: Thank You for Banning E-Cigarettes

Breaking News, Opinion

Md. Tasnim Hasan Abir The recent announcement and issuance of a gazette by the government banning the import of e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and all related products mark a significant shift in public health policy. This decision not only acknowledges growing concerns about the rising popularity of these products but also demonstrates the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of its citizens. As we reflect on this decision, it is crucial to express gratitude to the authorities for taking this bold step to address the potential health risks associated with e-cigarettes and all related products. Over the past few years, electronic cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products have gained significant popularity, particularly am...

Nov242024 by No Comments

A City That Never Sleeps, Still Asleep on Women’s Safety

Breaking News, Opinion

Chowdhury Naim Ahmed Mujib For mostwomen, something as simple as going out of the house requires a lot of planning, almost like preparing for a battle. From crowded streets and public transport to workplaces, the challenges women face in keeping themselves staying safe are constant and exhausting. A new platform, Amio Jitte Chai, funded by USAID and launched by Democracy International, is now offering a space to discuss these struggles and suggest solutions. On theirwebsite www.amiojittechai.com, many people have shared their concerns and one topic keeps coming up time and overis harassment free roads. Citizens are speaking out, calling for safer streets and public spaces. Everyone wants change—women want to walk freely without the fear of being harassed or attacked. Take Raisa, a...

Oct302024 by No Comments

E-cigarettes: The Name of a Terrible Death Trap

Breaking News, Opinion

Md. Tasnim Hasan Abir E-cigarettes are no less dangerous for health as compared to conventional cigarettes. These harmful commodities intelligently are being marketed to the youth through attractive campaigning by the tobacco companies, which is affecting the future of the nation. According to the World Health Organization, all emerging tobacco products including the e-cigarettes result in health hazards. To save the young generation from addiction towards e-cigarettes, their importation, sale, use, and promotion should be completely banned. It has to be kept in mind that tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are big stumbling blocks on the way to a healthier society. 48 percent of the population in Bangladesh comprises young people. The prevalence of tobacco use among Bangladesh...

Jun272024 by No Comments

What Do You Think About Bancassurance?

Breaking News, Opinion

David JH Griffiths This question was posed by Mr. Gokul Chand Das, Member, Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority IDRA) at the Asia banking and Finance Magazine Awards ceremony in Singapore in July 2018, where Guardian Life won three awards. A very positive discussion ensued during which I offered Guardian’s help to IDRA in pursuing this idea. Subsequently the Guardian Bancassurance Team researched Bancassurance regulations across the region and provided IDRA with draft regulations suitable for Bangladesh. In addition to Mr Das we were also encouraged in our efforts by Mr. Khalil Ahmed Executive Director of IDRA now Secretary, Ministry of Cultural Affairs. In November 2019 we went to see the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Mr. Fazle Kabir, to ascertain the Central Bank’s views on...

Jun222024 by No Comments

The Russell’s Viper: Unveiling the Reality Behind the Rumors in Bangladesh

Breaking News, Opinion

Abul Bashar Meraz Bangladesh, a country with rich biodiversity, is home to a variety of snake species, including some of the world's most venomous. Among these, the Russell's Viper (Daboia russelii) has recently garnered attention due to numerous rumors about its presence and the threat it poses to the population. This article aims to separate fact from fiction, providing an in-depth look at the Russell's Viper, its habitat, and its impact in Bangladesh. The Russell's Viper is a highly venomous snake found across the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of China and Taiwan. Named after Patrick Russell, a Scottish herpetologist, this snake is known for its distinctive chain-like pattern of dark brown spots on a lighter background. It typically measures between 4 to 5.5 feet ...