Bangladesh is a densely populated developing country. As we strive to overcome health, education, and environmental challenges, raising a healthy and capable generation has become a national imperative. One of the biggest obstacles in achieving this goal is the widespread use of tobacco. The alarming spread of smoking and other tobacco products is not only straining our health system but also harming the national economy. Now more than ever, collective efforts and effective action are needed to protect the country from the grip of tobacco.
Tobacco is a silent killer that gradually destroys individuals, societies, and states. It leads to mental addiction and physical deterioration. Tobacco products - including cigarettes, bidis, jorda, gul, khaini, and newer forms like e-cigarettes and vaping - all cause severe harm to the human body. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco-related diseases claim about 8 million lives globally every year. In Bangladesh, the number is close to 100,000. Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, of which at least 70 are known to cause cancer. Smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, respiratory issues, kidney problems, pregnancy complications, and even premature death.
Tobacco doesn't only harm its users - it also endangers those around them through secondhand or passive smoking. When children observe family members smoking, they are often influenced to follow the same path, leading to a cycle of addiction across generations. Moreover, tobacco-related illnesses cost the national healthcare system a staggering amount. A study has shown that Bangladesh loses approximately Tk 30,000 crore annually due to medical expenses and lost productivity stemming from tobacco use. In contrast, the revenue generated from tobacco taxes is negligible.
Tobacco also deepens poverty. Many low-income families spend a large portion of their limited income on tobacco, reducing their ability to afford essentials like food, education, healthcare, and housing. This leads to a generational trap of poverty. Even more concerning is the increasing rate of tobacco use among the youth. Influenced by peer pressure, media portrayals, and misleading advertisements, many young people are adopting tobacco as a fashion statement - endangering not only their own future but that of the nation.
Tobacco is not merely a personal habit; it is a social disease, a public health crisis, and an economic disaster. Eliminating its harmful grip requires collective responsibility, strict law enforcement, widespread education and awareness, and - most importantly - strong political will. Only then can we build a healthy, tobacco-free, and prosperous Bangladesh.
Smoking in public places - such as transport, offices, courts, hotels, restaurants, and open spaces - puts innocent bystanders, especially children and pregnant women, at serious risk. The resulting healthcare burden drains the national budget. While alternative livelihoods exist for those employed in the tobacco industry, implementation remains a challenge. Thus, tobacco continues to spread poison - threatening health on one side and causing economic decline on the other.
The Government of Bangladesh enacted the **Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act** in 2005, which was further strengthened in 2013. The law prohibits smoking in public places and bans the advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products. It also mandates pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging. While recent efforts to restructure tobacco taxation are commendable, loopholes remain - allowing tobacco companies to exploit pricing strategies and making cheap cigarettes easily accessible to youth.
In our culture, tobacco use is sometimes seen as a symbol of masculinity or social connection. Smokeless tobacco is particularly prevalent among lower-income groups. In many households, parents smoke openly, unknowingly influencing their children to adopt the same habit. The use of products like zarda and gul during religious or cultural events further normalizes tobacco consumption. Changing this cultural mindset requires trained leadership, conscious parenting, and a proactive media.
Educational institutions can be pivotal in shaping a tobacco-free generation. Awareness can be fostered through school curricula, special classroom discussions, poster campaigns, debate competitions, and stage dramas. Teachers who refrain from smoking themselves set powerful examples for students. However, the government cannot do it alone. Civil society, NGOs, media, and religious leaders must also step up. Anti-tobacco campaigns need to be expanded through social media, print, and broadcast platforms. Community initiatives - such as creating smoke-free zones and empowering local representatives - can make a real difference. If anti-tobacco education begins at home, the impact will be deep and lasting.
Additionally, tobacco farmers must be supported to transition to cultivating alternative crops like fruits, vegetables, and oilseeds. With the help of NGOs and government programs, they can shift to more sustainable and profitable agriculture. Similarly, alternative employment opportunities should be made available for workers in the tobacco industry to reduce their reliance on this harmful sector.
To build a healthy, strong, aware, and productive nation, we must protect our people - especially the youth - from the deadly trap of tobacco. This requires not only laws, but also strong social initiatives to make tobacco use socially unacceptable. To ensure the future of our children, advance the nation's economy, and reduce the healthcare burden, it is time for each of us to join the fight against tobacco. Let us choose life over tobacco. Let no one be left behind in our journey toward a tobacco-free Bangladesh.
Let's pledge together: "We will walk the path of a healthy life - not tobacco."
The writer is a contributor
