Health experts and policymakers urged the government to fast-track amendments to the Tobacco Control Law to curb rising tobacco use, particularly among young people.
Bringing representatives together from the Health Sector Reform Commission and the Development Organization of the Rural Poor (DORP), a discussion programme on strengthening the Tobacco Control Law was held at Abu Sayeed International Convention Hall on Wednesday.
The meeting focused on the need for a quick notification to pass key amendments to the law.
The Health Sector Reform Commission members Dr Abu Muhammad Zakir Hossain, S.M. Reza and Professor Dr. Syed Mo Akram Hossain were present on the occasion.
Mohammad Zobair Hasan, Deputy Executive Director of DORP, presented a keynote paper, highlighting six critical amendments aligned with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). These include banning designated smoking areas, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by tobacco companies, and the display of tobacco products at sales points.
The amendments also propose a ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products and an increase in pictorial health warnings from 50% to 90% on bidi and cigarette packs.
Md. Abdus Salam Mia, a representative from an international organisation, stated that the Health Ministry had already forwarded the proposed amendments to the Cabinet Division for approval as an ordinance. He added that an Advisory Council Committee, formed on 9 December 2024, is currently reviewing the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024. The revised draft will be presented again in an advisory council meeting.
DORP’s Tobacco Control Project Coordinator, Rubina Islam, highlighted that the Ministry of Commerce had issued a gazette notification on 1 January 2025, banning the import of e-cigarettes and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). She urged the government to extend the ban to production, use, and marketing, arguing that young people are at increasing risk of tobacco addiction.
Speakers at the meeting stressed that strengthening the Tobacco Control Law is crucial to protect public health, especially the youth. They called for quick approval of the amendments to ensure stricter regulations against tobacco use.
At the conclusion of the meeting, DORP submitted a memorandum to the Health Sector Reform Commission, urging the government to move forward with the amendments. The commission assured its commitment to addressing the issue in the Advisory Council Committee.
DORP, which has been working on development programmes since 1987, is known for introducing the Maternity Allowance Programme. The organisation continues to advocate for stronger tobacco control measures, higher taxes on tobacco products, and policy reforms in line with Bangladesh’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
