Dhaka, March 10 -- Research and advocacy organisation PROGGA - Knowledge for Progress - and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance, or ATMA, have urged the government to implement strict tobacco control laws to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.

PROGGA and ATMA raised red flags regarding the goal to achieve a total smoke-free environment while proposed designated smoking areas existed.

On Monday, a delegation from the two organisations held a meeting with Commerce Advisor Sk Bashir Uddin at the Secretariat.

The advocacy team spoke to the advisor about the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's initiative to "eliminate" designated smoking areas through a law amendment to safeguard non-smokers from the health hazards of passive smoking.

The pre...