Smoking and tobacco use are harmful to public health. Protecting people from smoking and tobacco use is one of the main responsibilities of the state. Article 18 (1) of the Bangladesh Constitution mandates the state to prohibit all products harmful to public health. The government has enacted laws aimed at controlling smoking. But due to various limitations of this law, the law is not being implemented. For this, the amendment of the law is necessary.

Hon’ble Appellate Division Civil Appeal No. 204-205/2001 to reduce the use of tobacco control; 01/03/16 In a judgment, Bangladesh has been directed to reduce tobacco use within a reasonable period of time. The same judgment directed that no new tobacco and tobacco products companies should be allowed in the country and existing tobacco companies should cooperate in manufacturing other products. Besides, the same judgment has given instructions not to make arrangements for smoking in non-smoking places.

As public health advocates, we note with deep concern that due to the limitations of existing smoking control laws in the country, there is a lot of advertising, smoking areas are being created in restaurants, and some groups are working to promote harmful products like e-cigarettes. Which is contrary to the Bangladesh Constitution and the guidelines of the Appellate Division.

1 lakh 61 thousand people die every year due to the use of tobacco products. 70% of deaths in the country are due to non-communicable diseases. And one of the main causes of non-communicable diseases is tobacco use. Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of lung cancer and mouth cancer in the country. In 2018, the cost of treatment of diseases related to tobacco use was Tk 30570 crore. It is important to follow the instructions of the Appellate Division to protect the citizens from this huge loss. It is our hope that the government will take strict action by amending the law to prevent the youth from the harm of smoking and to protect non-smokers especially women and children.