Health Experts Urge Ministry to Reject Tobacco Law Amendments

Public health experts have urged the Ministry of Health to reject the draft amendments to the Tobacco Control Act proposed by Unnayan (Center for Development Policy Research) and Tabinaj (Anti-Tobacco Women’s Alliance). They made this call at a press conference organized on 30 November 2025 at the National Press Club.

At the event they explained that the amendments suggested by these two organizations would weaken existing tobacco laws and increase health risks. Speakers said the proposals clearly favor the interests of the tobacco industry rather than public health. They noted that nearly 70,000 people die from tobacco-related diseases every year in Bangladesh, while more than 205,000 experience severe health complications.

According to research, currently about 15 percent of people aged 15 and above consume tobacco (Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2022). Studies by the University of Dhaka, North South University, Independent University Bangladesh, BRAC University and Dhaka South City Corporation found that 26 percent of primary school students in Dhaka had received gifts branded with tobacco company logos, which violates smoke-free policy guidelines.

Economist Dr. Hasanul Haq Inu said tobacco causes far more economic damage than the revenue the government earns from it. In the fiscal year 2017-18, government revenue from tobacco amounted to 48 percent of the money spent on tobacco-related treatment. For this reason he emphasized the importance of strong laws and evidence-based measures to control tobacco use.

Health experts stated that the Ministry of Health is working on significant reforms to six key provisions of the Tobacco Control Act, while Unnayan and Tabinaj are trying to undermine the process by submitting proposals aligned with tobacco industry interests. Their proposals include:

1.Allowing smoking zones in public places and transport under the term “Designated Smoking Areas (DSA).”
2.Allowing product displays at points of sale.
3.Allowing CSR campaigns by tobacco companies.
4.Maintaining packaging that does not include full plain packaging or reducing pictorial health warnings.
5.Keeping the permissible nicotine level in e-cigarettes at 20 percent instead of the proposed 0 percent.
6.Allowing the sale of single-stick cigarettes instead of banning them.

Speakers also noted that the main proposals submitted by Unnayan and Tabinaj mirror the policy recommendations made by multinational tobacco company Philip Morris, which has long pushed for approval to set up production in Bangladesh. They argued that these submissions are aligned with industry interests and should be rejected.

The conference also highlighted that tobacco companies have a history of violating laws and attempting to influence policy. The organizations pointed out that after the 2005 and 2013 amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, the number of violations actually increased in many places. Various studies show that the number of workers employed by tobacco companies has significantly declined over the past decade and that the industry exaggerates employment figures to justify weaker regulation.

Speakers urged the Ministry of Health to remain firm and complete the process of strengthening the Tobacco Control Act without bending to pressure from industry-backed groups. They called for public support and cooperation from all government agencies in this effort.

Participants included:
1.Iqbal Masud , Director
Health and Wellness Center
2.Anjuman Akhtar, 
Deputy Country Director, Cancer Free World
3.Aminur Rasul, Member 
Health Advocacy Network
4.Shima Das Shimu, Director
Unnayan (Center for Development Policy Research)
5.Sharmin Kabir Bina, Member
Tabinaj (Anti-Tobacco Women’s Alliance)