Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates (BTCA) strongly believes that any direct or indirect interference by tobacco companies in the process of amending the Tobacco Control Law is unacceptable. In a press release sent to the media on Monday (15 December), BTCA stated that a recent joint statement issued by several multinational tobacco companies clearly proves their attempt to influence laws formulated to protect public health, an action that is wholly unacceptable.
BTCA further emphasized that tobacco companies can never be considered stakeholders in tobacco control legislation, as the commercial interests of the tobacco industry are fundamentally and irreconcilably opposed to public health interests. As a State Party to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the Government of Bangladesh is legally and morally bound to fully implement Article 5.3, which provides clear guidance to keep the tobacco industry away from tobacco control policymaking processes.
The claims made by tobacco companies regarding employment, government revenue, investment, and the growth of illicit markets are misleading, exaggerated, and unsupported by scientific evidence. National and international research has repeatedly demonstrated that the effective implementation of strong tobacco control laws reduces smoking prevalence, lowers deaths from tobacco-related diseases, and significantly decreases long-term healthcare costs and economic losses. Presenting smokeless nicotine patches and e-cigarette as so-called “less harmful alternatives” is also a deliberate act of deception. These products are essentially new strategies to addict children and young people to nicotine, which in turn increases the likelihood of future tobacco use. In many countries, such products have led to an alarming rise in nicotine addiction among youth.
In reality, the very people whose livelihoods tobacco companies claim to protect are the ones who suffer the greatest health and socioeconomic harm from tobacco cultivation, production, and consumption. Every year in Bangladesh, hundreds of thousands of people die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases, and enormous sums are spent on medical treatment costs that far exceed the revenue generated from the tobacco sector. Moreover, tobacco companies sell products at prices higher than the printed price on the pack and oppose banning the sale of single sticks in order to continue sales to young people.
Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates strongly urges the government to put an end to all forms of influence and interference by tobacco companies in the process of amending the Tobacco Control Law, to fully implement Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, and to swiftly approve and enforce the proposed amendments. Protecting public health especially safeguarding children and young people must remain the highest priority of the Bangladesh. We firmly believe that a strong, evidence-based, and public-interest–oriented tobacco control law is the foundation of a healthy, productive, and sustainable Bangladesh. Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates remains committed to working collaboratively with the government to achieve this goal.
The statement was issued by Iqbal Masud, Convener of Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates; Syed Mahbubul Alam, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh; Syeda Ananya Rahman, Office Secretary of the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance; Aminul Islam Sujon, Moderator of Stop Tobacco Bangladesh; Farhana Zaman Liza, Tobacco Control Expert; Abu Raihan, Development Worker; Samiul Hasan Sajib, Tobacco Control Expert; Ibrahim Khalil, Journalist; and Samiul Hasan Sajib, Environmental Development Activist.
