The prolonged delay in finalizing amendments to Bangladesh's Tobacco Control (TC) law is intensifying the public health crisis, with anti-tobacco advocates warning of rising deaths and economic losses.
During a workshop held at the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) on Monday, prominent health organizations called for immediate government action to expedite the legislative process.
Organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), the workshop, titled "Tobacco Control Law Amendment: Progress, Barriers, and Way Forward," saw participation from 30 journalists across various media platforms.
Speakers emphasised the urgent need to finalize the amendments to mitigate the devastating impacts of tobacco use.
The proposed amendments, awaiting Cabinet approval, include stringent measures such as eliminating designated smoking areas (DSAs), banning corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by tobacco companies, prohibiting the display of tobacco products at points-of-sale, and banning the sale of loose cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
These changes are modelled on global best practices and aim to align Bangladesh's policies with international standards.
"Every day of delay translates into more lives lost and a greater economic burden," said Dr. Maheen Malik, Regional Director for South Asia Programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK). "The evidence is clear: strong tobacco control laws save lives."
Despite global progress in reducing tobacco use, Bangladesh remains a stark outlier. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global prevalence of tobacco use has decreased from one in three adults in 2000 to one in five in 2022. However, in Bangladesh, 35.3 per cent of adults continue to use tobacco, contributing to 161,000 deaths annually.
"The Prime Minister's vision of a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 is commendable, but it requires immediate and decisive action," stated Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Lead Policy Advisor at CTFK. "Delays are costing lives and undermining public health efforts."
The workshop highlighted the persistent interference of the tobacco industry as a significant barrier to legislative progress. Industry tactics, including lobbying and CSR activities, were criticized for undermining public health policies.
Among the distinguished speakers were Zahirul Alam, Head of News at NTV, Liton Haider, Convener of ATMA, Nadira Kiron, Co-convener of ATMA, Mizan Chowdhury, Co-convener of ATMA, and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA.
