ঢাকাসোমবার , ১২ অক্টোবর ২০২৬
State Minister for the Ministry of Land and the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, has stated that tobacco control is indispensable for combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and protecting public health in Bangladesh.
Emphasizing the urgent need for effective measures to protect the younger generation from the risks of nicotine addiction, he expressed his support for necessary legislative and policy measures that prioritize reducing tobacco use, safeguarding young people, and protecting public health.
He made these remarks while addressing a discussion meeting titled “Amended Tobacco Control Act 2026 for Public Health Protection and the Way Forward” as the Chief Guest. The event was organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) at the CIRDAP International Conference Center in the capital on Monday, 12 October.
At the meeting, public health experts and tobacco control advocates called for the swift implementation of the amended Tobacco Control Act 2026, the formulation of necessary rules, and a ban on the production, import, marketing, and sale of e-cigarettes and other emerging nicotine products to address tobacco use, which is responsible for approximately 200,000 premature deaths in Bangladesh every year.
Speakers stated that, according to data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) and existing research on the economic costs of tobacco, approximately 37.8 million people in Bangladesh use tobacco products. Tobacco-related diseases claim around 200,000 lives prematurely every year, equivalent to an average of approximately 546 deaths per day. Furthermore, tobacco use causes economic losses of around BDT 870 billion annually through healthcare expenditure, reduced productivity, and other related costs.
The speakers also highlighted that the harmful effects of tobacco extend beyond public health. Tobacco cultivation has severe environmental consequences, including deforestation, declining soil fertility, and excessive use of chemicals.
Concern was expressed over the exclusion of e-cigarettes and other emerging nicotine products from the amended Tobacco Control Act 2026. Speakers noted that tobacco companies are expanding the market for these products by employing various marketing strategies targeting young people, thereby increasing the risk of nicotine addiction among the next generation.
Noting that e-cigarettes have been banned in 40 countries worldwide, the speakers called on the government of Bangladesh to prohibit the production, import, marketing, and sale of e-cigarettes and other emerging nicotine products. They also urged the authorities to take stringent legal measures to curb the promotion and easy availability of these products and to formulate the necessary rules under the amended Tobacco Control Act 2026 without delay.
The meeting was chaired by Professor Dr. Golam Rahman, President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. Md. Akhteruzzaman, Director General of the National Tobacco Control Cell, attended as the Special Guest. Mukhlesur Rahman, Deputy Director of DAM’s Health and Nutrition Sector, delivered the welcome address, while Shariful Islam, Coordinator of DAM’s Tobacco Control Project, presented the keynote paper.
Other speakers included Md. Zakir Hossain, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association; Md. Mokaddem Hossain, General Secretary of the Bangladesh United Workers Federation; and Arifur Rahman Tipu, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association. Members of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission Youth Forum also participated in the event.
