Bangladesh NGOs make drama of smoking scenes

Five private television channels in Bangladesh have been served with a legal notice asking them to stop showing smoking scenes in television dramas and other programs by January 31, according to a story in The Daily Star.

The government was also served with a legal notice in connection with the campaign.

Supreme Court lawyer Shahdeen Malik sent the notices on behalf of two NGOs, the Environment Council Bangladesh and Ubinig, saying that the five television channels, ATN Bangla, Rtv, Ntv, Bangla Vision, and Maasranga, were showing scenes of smoking in violation of the tobacco control act.

Shahdeen Malik told the Star that a writ petition would be filed with the High Court if the television channels didn’t comply with the law.