Dhaka Correspondent  :: The campus-based roadshow of Battle of Minds 2017 has been halted at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) following the demands of anti-tobacco platforms in the country. Anti-tobacco organizations, naming Pratyasha, Aid Foundation, ACLAB, WBB Trust, Campaign for Tobacco Free- Kids (CTFK), Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance, Tamak Birodhi Nari Jote (TABINAJ), Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Tobacco Control and Research Cell (TCRC) and PROGGA, organized a protest program at BUET premise on 10.00 am and demanded to stop this illegal campaign from tobacco company. Earlier, Tobacco Industry Watch BD PROGGA, on October 3, 2017 had sent an alert unveiling the BoM 2017 issue to the anti-tobacco organizations and media. With the excuse of employment, British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB), like the past years, has started organizing its “Battle of Mind 2017” from October 10, 2017. The BATB has started attempting to organizes such roadshows in different universities to promote its campaign.
Remarkably, the BATB has been organizing this death-marketing event since 2004 to attract youths in smoking and influence the policymakers. Following the Section 5 (C) of Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act, 2005 (Amended 2013), application of tobacco company name, sign, logo, trademark for arranging such competitions, sponsoring or awarding is completely banned. Even if this section of the law is violated, a monetary fine not exceeding TK 100,000 or simple imprisonment not less than three month or the both is applicable. Therefore, Battle of Minds 2017 should be stopped to protect youths from the clutch of this multinational tobacco company, BATB, in Bangladesh.