Bangladesh, Sept. 9 -- Around 25 million people in Bangladesh are exposed to second-hand smoke while travelling on public transport, prompting calls for urgent measures to make all public transport completely tobacco- and smoke-free.

Stakeholders made the call at a meeting titled Way Forward to Ensure Tobacco-Free Public Transport, organised jointly by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) at the BRTA conference room in Banani on Wednesday.

They urged the authorities to strictly enforce existing tobacco control laws, ensure the mandatory display of "No Tobacco Use and No Smoking" signs and warning notices on public transport, and strengthen enforcement of penalties for smoking and tobacco use in publi...