Tobacco products cannot be sold within 100 meters of educational institutions and healthcare centers.

This has been stated in the recently published guidelines for implementation of tobacco control activities of local government organizations.

In this regard, the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Md. Tajul Islam, MP said in the guideline, “I think it is possible to control tobacco use in the country by developing effective marketing and prevention measures.”

Helaluddin Ahmed, senior secretary of the ministry said in order to protect the people of the country from the grave health risks of smoking and tobacco use, effective participation of all government ministries, departments, non-governmental organizations, media and civil society representatives is required.

The guideline will be applicable to all organizations under the local government department, he said.

Meanwhile, the guidelines state that a person / organization receiving a trade license can conduct business in one place. Separate trade licenses must be obtained for multiple places / shops and not to issue licenses for sale of tobacco products in any department store, food shop, grocery store and restaurant.

The guidelines for the implementation of tobacco control activities by local government bodies also state that if anyone fails to comply with these guidelines and tobacco control laws, their trade licenses will be revoked. In the light of the guidelines, the concerned people have expressed hope that the sale of tobacco products will be stopped in the vicinity of the education and health care institutions