They also urged the government to impose 200 percent more taxes on tobacco products to discourage consumption.

The press conference was organised jointly by Adhunik, Coalition Against Tobacco, LIEF and UNIC at the National Press Club to

mark the World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

The speakers said many countries including China, India and Bhutan are going to ban all kinds of tobacco production within five years.

They laid emphasis on creating mass awareness about harmful effects of smoking saying that only enactment of law is not enough.

The speakers said tobacco alone is responsible for about 80 percent of lungs cancer in the country.

But still the number of tobacco users is increasing especially among the young people every year, they added.

"Although tobacco use has declined in many high-income countries in recent decades, there have been sharp increases in tobacco use, especially among men, in low and middle-income countries including Bangladesh in recent years," said National Professor Dr Nurul Islam, founder president of Adhunik.

"We welcome the government to enact law against smoking in public place, but it is also very important to identify the products made of tobacco," he added.

"Around five million people die globally for taking tobacco products every year, and this figure will reach one crore in 2020 if tobacco taking is not stopped," said Kamrul Islam Sony, founder and chairman of LIFE.

Amanullah Khan, chairman of United News of Bangladesh (UNB), demanded the formation of a cell to monitor the implementation of Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act 2005 passed in parliament on March 13.

Ali Neyamat of Adhunik, Amirul Islam Babu of LIFE, and Ahmed Iftekharul Islam, editor of an anti-tobacco magazine, were present at the press conference.