Tobacco remains one of the deadliest public health threats of our time. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it claims more than eight million lives every year worldwide, including about 161,000 premature deaths annually in Bangladesh. This staggering loss not only devastates families but also places an immense burden on the nation’s healthcare system and hampers overall social and economic development. Despite decades of awareness campaigns and strong policies, the tobacco industry continues to adapt, finding new ways to target vulnerable groups especially young people. Through the glamorization of smoking in media, the introduction of sleek e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, and aggressive social media marketing, the industry has tried to rebrand addiction as a lifestyle choice. This evolving landscape has made the fight against tobacco more complex than ever.
Yet, amidst these challenges, the global youth community is pushing back with greater strength, innovation, and purpose. The World Conference on Tobacco Control, organized by The Union from 23–25 June 2025 in Dublin, Ireland, demonstrated how deeply young people are engaged in reshaping the narrative on tobacco control. The conference devoted significant space to youth voices, showcasing how young advocates across continents are challenging corporate influence, demanding stronger laws, and inspiring healthier futures.
From Bangladesh, a youth team made a remarkable contribution at the global stage. One of the youth leader Ms. Marjana Muntaha, Coordinator of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health & Well-being, represented the energy and vision of her generation. The Ahsania Mission Youth Forum, a volunteer platform under the Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health Sector, works to raise awareness, mobilize communities and advocates policy makers for a tobacco-free Bangladesh. Ms. Marjana, is also a participant of the Ascend Leadership Program 2025 Cohort organized by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC), embodies how capacity-building programs can transform local youth leaders into global advocates.
Her journey continues on the world stage as she prepares to attend the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ Global Tobacco Control Young Ambassador Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, from 10–14 November 2025. There, she will facilitate a session, sharing Bangladesh’s experiences and learning from global peers. This reflects how Bangladeshi youth are not only participating in global conversations but leading them turning knowledge into impactful action.
However, the battle remains far from over. Tobacco companies continue to invest billions in marketing and lobbying to undermine regulations. They target low- and middle-income countries, exploit digital loopholes, and promote alternative nicotine products under the guise of harm reduction. Youth are often the first targets of these deceptive tactics. But they are also the first line of defense. Across Bangladesh and beyond, young people are organizing awareness campaigns, skill development workshops, rallies, dialogues, and policy advocacy initiatives to counter misinformation and expose the manipulative strategies of the tobacco industry.
The rise of youth-led activism marks a hopeful shift. This new generation is not waiting for change they are creating it. With evidence-based advocacy, creative campaigns, and collaboration with civil society, they are challenging the normalization of nicotine use and demanding accountability. Their efforts remind us that tobacco control is not just a health movement it is a social justice movement, one that safeguards the right to breathe clean air and live free from addiction.
As youth from Bangladesh continue to represent their country on international platforms, they embody the spirit of resilience and leadership that defines the future of global tobacco control. Their determination proves that a tobacco-free generation is not just a dream it is a growing reality, built on passion, purpose, and the unwavering will to protect lives.

Al Tanvir Newaz
Media Manager, Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission