In Bangladesh, approximately 37.8 million adults use tobacco. Every year, more than 161,000 people die prematurely due to tobacco-related diseases. Against this backdrop, leaders from various professional organizations have called for the swift passage of the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act to strengthen it and prevent these premature deaths.
On Thursday, June 19, during a seminar titled “Role and Future Actions of Professional Organizations in Strengthening the Tobacco Control Law for Public Health Protection” held at the auditorium of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, this demand was voiced.
Leaders and representatives from several professional bodies participated in the event, including the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association, Bangladesh Inland Waterways (PC) Association, Bangladesh Grocery Business Association (BGBA), Bangladesh United Workers Federation, Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners Association, and the National Shop Employees Federation.
The seminar was presided over by Dr. Golam Rahman, President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, while the welcome speech was delivered by Iqbal Masud, Director of Health and WASH Sector of the organization.
In the keynote presentation, Shariful Islam, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, cited findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017, stating that 19.2 million people in the country are smokers, and around 40 million are exposed to secondhand smoke. The rate of secondhand smoke exposure stands at 42.7%. He highlighted the role played by various associations and professional bodies in supporting the amendment process and outlined future action plans.
Leaders from these organizations stated that they had previously submitted memorandums and letters to the government in support of the amendment. They applauded the Health Services Division for drafting the revised version of the law. They also acknowledged that a new advisory committee, comprising nine advisors and three secretaries, has been formed to review the draft law once again.
At the event, the leaders urged the government to take appropriate steps to pass the draft law without delay.
Key provisions in the proposed amendment include: eliminating designated smoking areas in public places, banning the display of tobacco products at points of sale, prohibiting the sale of single sticks of bidi and cigarettes, protecting youth from e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products, banning CSR activities by tobacco companies, and expanding pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs from 50% to 90%. They emphasized that these measures would significantly contribute to protecting public health and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Speakers also addressed misinformation spread by tobacco companies, which claim that passing the amendment would result in major revenue losses for the government. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Since the enactment of the Tobacco Control Act in 2005 and its amendment in 2013, government revenue from tobacco has increased more than 12.5 times over 18 years. Simultaneously, tobacco use has decreased by 18% between 2009 and 2017.
Representatives from various anti-tobacco organizations and youth forums also attended the seminar and reiterated their demand for the immediate passage of the amended tobacco control law.