Call for immediate passage of tobacco control amendment to protect human life
Staff Reporter
The DORP Youth Forum has called for the immediate passage of the proposed amendment to the Tobacco Control Law formulated by the Ministry of Health, emphasising that this amendment is essential to protect public health.
They stated that urgent action is needed to save the next generation from the devastating grip of tobacco.
During a human chain on Thursday organised by the DORP Youth Forum in Mirpur-10, Dhaka, the youth participants reiterated their demand for the immediate adoption of the amendment.
Addressing the Honorable Chief Adviser, the youth advocates urged that the draft amendment should be given top priority and approved without further delay.
Citing data from the Tobacco Atlas 2025, they noted that tobacco-related diseases claim approximately 130,000 lives annually in Bangladesh—an average of 357 deaths per day—while millions more suffer from various illnesses.
They added that tobacco use continues to drive the rise of non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory illnesses, cancer, and kidney disease.
The youth advocates also observed that, despite some recent initiatives by the government, Bangladesh still has the highest rate of tobacco use in South Asia.
They stated that the prolonged delay by the advisory committee is costing lives every day. People continue to fall sick and die—this, they said, is the irreversible cost of inaction.
They further noted that tobacco use causes an economic loss of nearly BDT 392 billion each year.
Passing the proposed amendment would significantly reduce tobacco consumption and mitigate both the severe health and economic burdens associated with it.
Adib, a student of Dhaka University, said that Bangladesh was the first country to sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
However, the latest WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic shows that Bangladesh has yet to achieve best-practice standards in ensuring smoke-free environments and banning tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
He emphasised that the proposed amendment by the Ministry of Health would close existing loopholes in the current law, align national legislation with FCTC recommendations, and bring Bangladesh closer to global best practices in tobacco control.
Saikat, a student of Jahangirnagar University, stated that tobacco companies primarily target young people, knowing that early addiction will secure long-term consumers.
He explained that the industry constantly devises new tactics—after cigarettes and e-cigarettes, they are now aggressively pushing nicotine pouches through misleading messages and enticing promotions.
He pointed out that even Philip Morris has recently been permitted to establish a nicotine pouch manufacturing facility in Bangladesh.
Calling this a dangerous tactic, he stressed the urgency of passing the proposed amendment to prevent such products from capturing the youth market.
During the human chain, youth advocates presented six key recommendations for strengthening the existing law.
These include: eliminating designated smoking areas in all public places and transport; banning the display of tobacco products at points of sale; prohibiting corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by tobacco companies; taking strong measures to protect children and youth from e-cigarettes; banning the sale of loose or single-stick tobacco products; and expanding graphic health warnings from 50 percent to 90 percent of packaging.
Following the human chain, youth participants attended a workshop organized by DORP at UCEP Bangladesh.
