A tobacco company has allegedly used the great Rabindranath Tagore in their ads of tobacco product. In recent time a music program of artiste Tahsan Khan on the Japan travel of Tagore is being given wide publicity in several mass media. Even on Wednesday this advertisement was published by Japan Tobacco Bangladesh.
The organizations working with tobacco said that this type of promotional ads is something new and novel in nature. In this promotional ad the brand color and slogan ‘Japanese quality’ was used. Japan tobacco company also uses this color and slogan in their brand promotion. So it is undoubtedly this program is meant for the promotion of Japan tobacco brand.
On the other hand in the ad though the name of Japan tobacco was not mentioned directly still all the campaigns bears all the ingredients of Japan tobacco.
Dhaka University Social science faculty student Rubel Ahmed told that the great Tagore has occupied all the thoughts of the Bangalees by his creations. This is absolutely shameless incident that a cigarette company is using Tagore in their promotional ads. He also condemned the involvement of Tahsan in such ads.
A NGO Progya working in narcotics control campaigns said that immediate after entering Bangladesh market the Japan tobacco is violating rules one by one by giving various publicities. Tahsan khan is a very popular artiste of this time and an icon of the young generation. His involvement in such program is not expected which can attract the youth towards tobacco.
According to section 5 of smoking and tobacco control law to give wide publicity for popularizing tobacco is strictly prohibited and also a punishable offense. If any body violates this law he or they can be awarded three months simple imprisonment or a fine of Taka one lakh or may be awarded both punishments.