The Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 has come into force following presidential assent, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing announced on Thursday.
According to the announcement, the ordinance became effective on December 30, 2025, subject to the President’s approval.
Under the new law, smoking and the use of all tobacco products have been completely prohibited in all public places and public transport. The penalty for violating this provision has been increased from Tk 300 to Tk 2,000.
The ordinance also imposes a total ban on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and publicity across print, electronic and online media, including social media and OTT platforms.
Displaying tobacco packets at points of sale has been prohibited and tobacco companies are no longer allowed to use their names or logos in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities or provide financial sponsorship for any event or programme.
In addition, the sale of tobacco products within 100 metres of educational institutions, hospitals, clinics, playgrounds and children’s parks has been banned.
The ordinance introduces a complete ban on emerging tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco products.
The production, import, export, storage, sale and use of such products have been declared punishable offences, carrying a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Tk five lakh.
The production, marketing and use of bidis made from kumbhi and tendu leaves have also been fully prohibited.
Consequently, the Bidi Manufacture (Prohibition) Ordinance, 1975 has been repealed to bring all tobacco-related regulations under a unified legal framework.
Mixing harmful addictive substances with tobacco or tobacco products has been declared a punishable offence.
The sale of tobacco products without standard packaging, including coloured pictorial health warnings covering at least 75 percent of the packet, has also been banned.
To strengthen enforcement, the ordinance has increased fines and imprisonment terms, introduced provisions for licence cancellation and seizure of goods for companies and incorporated procedures for conducting cases under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Earlier, the Health Services Division of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had proposed amendments to further strengthen the Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) Act, 2005.
The ordinance aims to protect public health from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine, repeal outdated laws on bidi production and eliminate emerging tobacco products from the market.
The definition of “tobacco products” has been expanded to include e-cigarettes, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), Heated Tobacco Products (HTP), nicotine pouches and other emerging products.
The government has also been empowered to declare any product as a tobacco product through gazette notification.
Separate definitions of “nicotine” and “nicotine products” have been added, and the definition of “public place” has been broadened to ensure wider coverage under the law.
SH
