Death Clock Installed In Bangladesh To Raise Awareness For Smoking Dangers

Lee Rannals for redOrbit.com — Your Universe Online

Bangladesh has set up a “Death Clock” in its capital to try and raise some awareness about the dangers related to smoking.

According to Sayed Badrul Karim from the Progga NGO, about 57,000 people die each year due to tobacco-related diseases in Bangladesh. The country is ranked as one of the world’s highest in tobacco consumption.

The “Death Clock” was installed on a road near Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s residence in the capital Dhaka. This clock will be keeping a rolling tally of people dying of tobacco-repeated illnesses every day.

Taifur Rahman, Advocacy and Media Coordinator in Bangladesh of CTFK, said that the clock will be running until the next parliament session, January 27.

About 58 percent of men, and 29 percent of women in Bangladesh are tobacco users. The country is considering a new law that will restrict the use of tobacco, and increase taxes on tobacco products.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said the move gives assurance to provide all possible support in passage of the amended anti-tobacco law.

The clockmakers hope that the Death Clock will be a tool to draw attention to policymakers, and help expedite amendment of anti-tobacco law. The cabinet approved the draft of the amended tobacco control act 2012 in principle on August 27, 2012.

According to a report by the Financial Express, over 20,000 people have already died in the past 132 days due to tobacco use.

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world, and the rate of consumption in Bangladesh is higher than any other country in the world.