TC control orgs urge govt not to drop e-cigarette and point-of-sale display bans to protect youth
Leading tobacco control organisations have raised alarm over the government’s move to exclude provisions banning e-cigarettes and the display of tobacco products at points of sale from the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, warning that the decision could weaken efforts to protect young people and public health.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the organisations said the removal of these measures would roll back progress in tobacco control and create space for aggressive marketing by tobacco companies, particularly targeting children and adolescents.
Citing research evidence, the groups stressed that emerging tobacco products such as e-cigarettes pose significant health risks and often act as a gateway to nicotine addiction among youth. They also highlighted that visible display of tobacco products at retail outlets plays a powerful role in normalising tobacco use and encouraging uptake among minors.
“The decision to drop these provisions is deeply concerning. It undermines years of progress and opens the door for increased exposure and influence on young people,” the statement said.
The organisations further argued that the move contradicts the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) electoral commitment to strengthen tobacco control measures, raising questions about policy consistency.
Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, former adviser to the caretaker government and a noted economist, urged authorities to reconsider. “We call on the government and Parliament to restore these provisions immediately. Public health and protecting the youth from addiction must come before narrow profit interests,” he said.
Bangladesh continues to face a heavy burden from tobacco use. According to the statement, nearly 200,000 people die each year from tobacco-related causes. The economic cost—driven by healthcare expenses, productivity losses, and environmental damage—amounts to approximately Tk 87,000 crore annually, more than double the revenue generated by the tobacco sector.
The prevalence of tobacco use among adults aged 15 and above currently stands at 35.3 percent, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
The statement warned that without strong legislative measures, the country risks a further rise in tobacco consumption and its associated health and economic impacts.
The signatories to the statement include the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), Dhaka Ahsania Mission, DORP, Nari Maitree, National Heart Foundation, PPRC, TABINAJ and PROGGA.
