Despite being prohibited by law, smoking scenes continue to appear prominently in Bangladeshi dramas. In some productions, a 40-minute drama contains more than 80 smoking scenes, representing both a blatant violation of country law and a serious distortion of cultural values in entertainment media. Directors, producers, and artists, whether intentionally or not, are leading adolescents and young viewers toward smoking, which is alarming for families, society, and the nation.
On 17 December (Wednesday), the Madok Drabo O Nesha Nirodh Sangstha (MANAS) issued a press release calling for the stop of smoking depictions in dramas and the strict enforcement of the Tobacco Control Law. The release highlighted that although showing smoking in dramas is prohibited by law, violations continue unabated. MANAS representatives recently monitored several dramas on television, OTT platforms, and other media. Among these were the recently released web film Noya Note and dramas Businessman, Toke Khuji, Emon Dine Tare Jay Bola, and Shortcut. Almost all the observed productions contained multiple smoking scenes. In the 40-minute drama Businessman, for example, over 80 smoking scenes were recorded. Across these five productions, there were 187 instances of smoking, often highlighted by popular actors in ways that capture the attention of young viewers. In some dramas, cigarette brands were subtly promoted, and promotional trailers and marketing materials also included smoking scenes.
Speaking on the issue, MANAS President Prof. Dr. ArupRatan Choudhury said that well-written, story-driven Bangladeshi dramas are now increasingly rare. Most of the current content tends to be name-brand-driven, filled with negativity, including smoking, alcohol consumption, inappropriate language, and depictions of violence. Segments of such dramas are often circulated on social media, capturing the attention of adolescents and young audiences. These practices harm individuals, families, and society. He emphasized that directors, producers, and artists must step away from such unhealthy competition and demonstrate responsibility.
The press release further noted that, due to the lack of specific regulations on OTT platforms, many dramas are now produced exclusively for online release. Even after their release on OTT platforms, some are later broadcast on television. Under the pretext of “story necessity,” creators continue to ignore the law, while tobacco companies exploit the popularity of these platforms. Such violations could push the next generation especially adolescents toward deadly habits such as smoking.
MANAS has called for strengthening the existing Tobacco Control Law, finalizing draft guidelines for OTT platforms, and establishing clear standards to prevent the depiction of tobacco use in media. The organization emphasized that, under Section 5(e) of the Smoking and Tobacco Product Use (Control) Act, 2005, no locally or internationally produced film, drama, or documentary may depict the use of tobacco products on television, radio, the internet, stage performances, or any other media. Strict adherence to this law is essential to protect young audiences and uphold public health.