Tobacco control orgs urge govt to reinstate e-cigarette, POS display bans to protect youth
They also warned that their removal could undermine efforts to protect public health, particularly among young people
Leading tobacco control (TC) organisations have called on the government to reinstate proposed bans on e-cigarettes and point-of-sale (POS) display of tobacco products in the draft Tobacco Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2025.
They also warned that their removal could undermine efforts to protect public health, particularly among young people.
In a joint statement issued today (1 April), the groups expressed "deep concern" over the decision to drop these provisions, arguing that emerging tobacco products such as e-cigarettes pose serious health risks and often act as a gateway to nicotine addiction among youth.
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They also noted that visible tobacco product displays at retail outlets function as a form of promotion, increasing the likelihood of tobacco use among children and adolescents.
The removal of these critical measures weakens Bangladesh's tobacco control framework, creates opportunities for aggressive industry marketing and contradicts prior commitments to strengthen tobacco control, the statement said.
Prominent economist Hossain Zillur Rahman urged immediate action to restore the provisions.
"Public health and protecting the youth from addiction must come before narrow profit interests," he said, calling on both the government and parliament to reconsider the decision.
According to the organisations, tobacco use claims nearly 2,00,000 lives annually in Bangladesh. They also highlighted the economic burden, estimating that tobacco-related health and environmental costs amount to around Tk 87,000 crore—more than double the revenue generated by the sector.
They further cited data showing that 35.3% of adults aged 15 and above currently use tobacco, warning that without stronger regulatory measures, the public health crisis is likely to worsen.
The statement was jointly issued by several organisations, including the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP), Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Nari Maitree, National Heart Foundation, PPRC, TABINAJ and PROGGA.
The groups reiterated their demand for comprehensive tobacco control legislation, emphasising that stronger policies are essential to safeguard future generations.
