Staff Reporter
Bangladesh has emerged as a regional leader in tobacco control by becoming the first and only country in Asia to classify cigarette filters as single-use plastic, a move aligned with its global commitments under the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
The achievement and the need for swift legal reforms were highlighted on Sunday at a webinar titled “Translating WHO FCTC COP Decisions into Action in Bangladesh: A Case Study”, jointly organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA).
Speakers noted that Bangladesh’s decision to categorise cigarette filters as single-use plastic was adopted during the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP-10) as part of implementing Article 18 of the WHO FCTC, which focuses on environmental protection in tobacco production and manufacturing.
The government delegation later presented this progress at COP-11, held in Geneva from 17 to 22 November 2025, reaffirming its commitment to amending national law and strengthening tobacco control measures.
Anti-tobacco activists who had attended previous COP meetings shared their experiences during the webinar and urged coordinated action among all stakeholders to ensure full implementation of COP-11 decisions.
Speakers also underscored the heavy toll of tobacco use in Bangladesh. Tobacco-related diseases such as cancer, stroke, cardiovascular and lung diseases claim around 130,000 lives annually.
A recent study shows that tobacco use and production cost the national economy an estimated BDT 87,000 crore each year, more than double the revenue generated by the tobacco sector.
Against this backdrop, discussants stressed that delays in amending the tobacco control law would only increase damage to public health, the environment and the economy. They called on policymakers to quickly finalise and enact the proposed amendments to better align the law with WHO FCTC provisions.
The webinar featured Md Mostafizur Rahman, former chairman of BCIC; Saifuddin Ahmed, executive director of WBB Trust; Iqbal Masud, director (Health and WASH) at Dhaka Ahsania Mission; Syed Mahbubul Alam, senior technical adviser at Vital Strategies Bangladesh; and Mizan Chowdhury, co-convener of ATMA. ATMA convener Mortuza Haider Liton delivered the welcome address.
The session was presided over by ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA, hosted by Rokaiya Abdullah Raka, programme officer, with the keynote presentation delivered by Hasan Shahriar, head of programmes.
