DHAKA: The use of tobacco decreased by eight percent in last eight years making the number of tobacco users in Bangladesh to stand at 35.3 percent by the end of 2017, says a study of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS).

The GATS survey report was disclosed in the conference room of Health Ministry in secretariat on Tuesday (August 14).

According to the survey report, the number of tobacco users was 43.3 percent in 2009 and declined by 8 percent since then. Among country’s tobacco users, 46 percent are male and 25.2 percent female. Moreover, 39 percent people of households, 42.7 percent people of workplaces, 23.4 percent people of public transports suffer from passive smoking.

According to the Tobacco Atlas report 2018, Some 1,61,200 people die from diseases related tobacco use every year. According to World Health Organization (WHO), some 3,82,000 people become crippled every year due to tobacco use.

GATS has been conducting the survey since 2009 as per data provided by Center for Disease Control and Prevention of WHO and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, state minister Zahid Malik and secretary Sirajul Huq were also present at that time. 

BDST: 1710 HRS, AUG 14, 2018
AP/SMS