TBT DESK
The approved Tobacco Control Ordinance, aimed at protecting the health of women, children, and youth, will be turn into law in the first session of Parliament, said Farzana Sharmin, Honorable State Minister of the Ministry of Social Welfare of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
She made this statement as the chief guest at a youth conference organized by Nari Maitree on Friday (March 27) at the Kabi Shamsur Rahman Seminar Hall of Bangla Academy. Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruk, President of the Bangladesh Cancer Society, attended the event as a special guest.
Farzana Sharmin stated, “Among the ordinances we have agreed upon, the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 is one of the most important. This ordinance is highly significant for both public health and the economy. Since there is consensus on this ordinance, it will be turn into law within the stipulated time of the first parliamentary session, in accordance with constitutional requirements.”
The conference highlighted that, according to the Tobacco Atlas 2025, around 200,000 people die annually in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related diseases—approximately 546 deaths per day. A recent study by the Health Economics Institute of Dhaka University found that in the 2024–25 fiscal year, revenue from the tobacco sector amounted to about BDT 41,000 crore. In contrast, the total economic loss due to tobacco-related deaths, healthcare costs, and environmental damage reached approximately BDT 87,000 crore annually—more than double the revenue generated.
To prevent premature deaths and protect public health, the Advisory Council approved the proposed Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 on December 24, 2025, following a proposal from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The ordinance includes several key provisions: banning smoking and the use of tobacco products in public places and public transport; prohibiting the display of tobacco products at points of sale; banning all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship across print, electronic, social media, OTT, and digital platforms; prohibiting the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of educational institutions, hospitals, and sports facilities; and increasing the size of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging from 50% to 75%, among other measures.
Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruk stated, “Protecting public health is a fundamental responsibility of the state. The government spends more on treating tobacco-related illnesses than it earns from tobacco revenue. But our goal is not treatment—we want to prevent people from falling ill. Therefore, the Tobacco Control Ordinance must be turn into law in the first session of Parliament.”
Drawing the attention of the chief guest, he further added, “You are a member of the committee formed to review the ordinances placed in the first session of the 13th National Parliament. Hope you will play a strong role in ensuring this ordinance is turn into law.”
Tasfia Nowrin, a member of the Nari Maitree Anti-Tobacco Youth Forum, said, “According to the latest Population Census (2022), about 28% of Bangladesh’s total population are young people. Sustainable national progress is not possible without prioritizing this group. However, youth are the primary target of tobacco companies. Therefore, to counter their tactics, the newly elected government must pass the Tobacco Control Ordinance into law in the first session of Parliament, as pledged in its election manifesto.”
The meeting, chaired by Shaheen Akter Dolly, Executive Director of Nari Maitree, was also attended by Professor Dr. Shah Ali Akbar Ashrafi, former Director of the Directorate General of Health Services, along with members of the Nari Maitree anti-tobacco Mothers’ Forum, Teachers’ Forum, Journalists’ Forum, Youth Forum, and representatives of various civil society organizations. All participants strongly demanded that the Tobacco Control Ordinance be enacted into law during the first session of Parliament.
