RU campus to be made smoking-free zone: VC

Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University Prof Md Mijanuddin here today said the entire university (RU) campus would be made a smoking-free zone for the sake of health benefits.

“We have already made the Central Library free from smoking. Necessary measures have been taken to free all the classrooms from the menace,” he added.

“We have a plan of imposing ban on smoking on the campus as early as possible”, said Prof Mijanuddin, addressing a roundtable discussion styled “Smoking-free campus: Reality and Our Duties” held at Teachers` Lounge of RU.

Rajshahi University Reporter Unity (RURU) and Association for Community Development (ACD) jointly organized the meeting in association with Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids (CTFK) and Bloomberg Philanthropies supported the meeting.

Pro-VC Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, Students Adviser Prof Mijanur Rahman and General Secretary of Rajshahi University Teachers Association Prof Shah Azam Shantunu also spoke with RURU President Kaikobad Khan in the chair.

Prof Mijanuddin sought cooperation from all quarters, including students` organizations, to supplement his administration’s move towards making the campus smoking-free.

During his keynote presentation, Ehsanul Amin Emon, Project Coordinator of ACD, said around 57,000 people die and nearly 12 lakh people become disabled every year in the country due to tobacco-related diseases.

Gross violation of the Tobacco Control Act continues to go unabated in the restricted areas, including public places, threatening public health.

Source: BSS