Call for Approval of Tobacco Control Ordinance in Parliament

Public health experts, researchers and various groups from civil society have called for the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 to be quickly approved in the national parliament. According to them, implementing the amended act is essential to reduce tobacco-related diseases and deaths and to protect the younger generation from tobacco addiction. Considering the public health threats caused by tobacco, they urge that the ordinance be approved in parliament and quickly enacted into act. They believe this would strengthen control over tobacco products and mark an important step in protecting public health.

According to public health experts, a large number of people in the country suffer from various non-communicable diseases each year due to tobacco use. Therefore, they stress that tobacco control act should be strengthened and aligned with international standards to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco.

Following a process of consultation with stakeholders and taking their opinions into account, the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act was enacted in Bangladesh for the first time in 2005 during the tenure of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government. Later, some amendments were made to the Act in 2013. During the tenure of the Bangladesh Awami League government, which was later ousted through a mass uprising, an initiative was taken to amend the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 (amended in 2013).

After the interim government assumed office, a high-level advisory committee was formed in December 2024 to review the amendment of the act. According to the official government gazette related to the committee, it was tasked with reviewing the opinions and recommendations of all relevant stakeholders and making suggestions regarding the amendment of the act.

At a meeting of the advisory council on December 24 of last year, the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 was approved and later published in the official gazette on December 30.

The ordinance includes provisions to ban the use of all types of tobacco products in public places and public transport, prohibit the display of tobacco products at sales points and ban all forms of advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products through the internet or any other medium. It also prohibits the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of educational institutions and increases the health warning coverage on tobacco packaging from the current 50 percent to 75 percent of the package surface. Several additional measures have also been included.

After the 13th National Parliamentary election, the newly appointed State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. M. A. Muhit, said that steps would be taken to present the tobacco control ordinance in the first session of the national parliament and convert it into act.

Analysts say that if realistic measures are taken to control tobacco, it will help reduce the country’s long-term healthcare expenditures. The enormous amount of money spent by the government and families on treating tobacco-related diseases could be reduced, which would also have a positive impact on the economy. However, the current act has not been able to reduce smoking to the expected extent. Since the last amendment was passed in 2013, a long time has passed and many changes have occurred in various sectors. Therefore, the provisions of the act need to be updated in line with international experiences and Bangladesh’s current realities. Doing so would not only protect public health but also contribute to progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

They also believe that after the law is approved in parliament, taking stakeholder opinions into account while drafting the implementation rules would be the most clear and practical step. This would allow for the formulation and effective implementation of a realistic and well-considered law. Therefore, they have urged the national parliament to quickly review and approve the ordinance.