Delays in amending the Tobacco Control (TC) law are exacerbating the toll of tobacco-related deaths and losses in Bangladesh. The government is urged to expedite the finalization of this crucial amendment.

This was the key message at a journalists’ workshop titled “Tobacco Control Law Amendment: Progress, Barriers, and Way Forward,” held at the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) Conference Room on Tuesday. The event was organized by anti-tobacco organizations PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) and attended by 30 journalists from print, television, and online media.

The workshop highlighted that with Cabinet approval, the amendment process would move significantly closer to completion. The draft amendment proposes several measures, including the elimination of designated smoking areas (DSAs), a ban on tobacco companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, restrictions on the display of tobacco products at points-of-sale, a ban on the sale of loose sticks, and a prohibition on e-cigarettes and other vaping products.

These proposed changes, prepared by the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, align with global best practices. Despite continuous interference from the tobacco industry, the prevalence of tobacco use is declining worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every three adults globally used tobacco in 2000, compared to one in every five in 2022. However, in Bangladesh, 35.3% of adults still use tobacco, resulting in 161,000 deaths annually.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared her vision of a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040. To achieve this, it is imperative to expedite the tobacco control law amendment process and ensure it remains free from tobacco industry interference.

Prominent speakers at the workshop included Dr. Maheen Malik, Regional Director South Asia Programs at Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK); Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Lead Policy Advisor at CTFK; Zahirul Alam, Head of News at NTV; Liton Haider, Convener of ATMA; and co-conveners Nadira Kiron and Mizan Chowdhury. ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, also spoke.