Speakers at a participatory discussion in Rajshahi unequivocally called for strict enforcement of the amended tobacco control law to protect the women from the adverse effect of smokeless tobacco. Referring to various research findings they mentioned that smokeless tobacco, like smoking, causes cancer and serious health harms. Whereas, the smokeless tobacco use remains an "overlooked" public health menace in the region like other parts of the country. They made the observations while addressing a daylong workshop styled "Smokeless Tobacco at Tobacco Control Law through Department of Women Affairs" at the seminar hall of District Women Affairs Office in Rajshahi city yesterday. Association for Community Development (ACD) under its 'Strengthening Tobacco Control in Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions programme' organized the workshop in association with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids. With Shahnaz Begum, District Women Affairs Officer, in the chair, Upazila Women Affairs Officers Farida Yeasmin, Fatema Khatun, Shimul Billah, Sharmin Shapla and Mijanur Rahman, Executive Director of SNKS Nazrul Islam and ACD Programme Officer Shariful Islam spoke on the occasion. During his keynote presentation, Ehsanul Amin Emon, Project Coordinator of ACD, says smokeless tobacco use is the predominant form of tobacco used by women in the region, exceeding cigarette smoking by almost 20 times. Smokeless tobacco includes products that are chewed, sucked, dipped, held in the mouth, or inhaled. Many products are combined with other non-tobacco ingredients such as nuts and a wide variety of flavourings. "Some people use dust of tobacco leaf,some consume raw tobacco leaf just drying it in the sun. Gul, Zarda, Sada Pata are very common in the region." "Basically people do not think that smokeless tobacco can harm them. So they even use this in family gatherings," Emon said. Quoting research findings he told the meeting that smokeless tobacco causes addiction, cancer of the oral cavity, esophagus, and pancreas, and reproductive and developmental effects such as stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth-weight. Some types of smokeless tobacco are linked with heart disease, diabetes and stroke. He added that efforts to address the fatal consequences of tobacco use must include smokeless tobacco. Source: BSS.