Tobacco.org

• Anti-smoking law still in name only 

Having to put up with Dhaka's chaotic and terrible bus services is one thing, but breathing in fumes in an enclosed place is quite another. It gets only worse for the people like Mizanur Rahman who are allergic to cigarette smoke or suffering from asthma.

After years of suffering this aerial assault, Mizan, a Mohammadpur resident, finally decided to put pen to paper and make his point about the nuisance of smoking in public places. He decided to send his complaint to some of the daily newspapers, saying that smoking in public transportations reflects the carelessness and absence of civic sense of the citizens.

"A number of arrogant and senseless people including bus drivers, their helpers and even 'educated' passengers tend to smoke away to glory with little concern for the people around them," wrote Mizanur Rahman. . . .

In 2005, with an aim to discourage smoking, the ban of smoking in public and advertisement of tobacco products stirred a surge of awareness amongst the majority of the smoking population. However, as the ban was not widely publicises it was rather short-lived -- thanks to the poor show by authorities concerned.

Majority of the city dwellers still seem to be confused about the law as it failed to clearly define the places off-limits to smoking and advertisement of tobacco products. Hoardings by cigarette companies still deck the roofs of shops throughout the city

"I know that smoking in public and vehicles is prohibited. But I'm not sure about the places falling under the prohibition," said Sharif Mahmud, a student of Dhaka University.

The law prohibits smoking at academic institutions, government, semi-government and autonomous offices, libraries, lifts, hospitals, clinics, court buildings, airports, sea and river port buildings, railway stations, bus terminals, buses, ferries, cinema halls, indoor exhibition centres, theatres and children's parks.

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